Some years ago, the Wendy's chain of hamburger restaurants ran a series of television commercials that some will remember with a chuckle. They featured a pair of ladies well seasoned by their accumulated years, with one of them on a seemingly endless quest for the perfect hamburger, humorously asking the famous question - "Where's the beef?"
Any reminiscent chuckles aside, my quest and question here concerns another definition of the word "Beef"...
From vocabulary.com:
"beef
Beef is meat from a cow. It's also a word for a complaint. If you have a beef with someone, you’re not sharing a steak, you have a gripe. Just don’t beef to a cow; her problems are worse.
Beef is a type of meat from cattle. If you've ever had a hamburger, you've had beef. The word beef comes from the Old French word buef, which became the word for basically, cow meat. Beef is to cow as pork is to pig or mutton is to sheep. On the other hand, if you have a beef with someone, you have a complaint. Beefing is expressing such feelings." (The underline is mine)
Fully recognizing the origin and truth of our existence, position and source of continual provision, it's really not our place to "complain". A position of gratitude should be our continual stance and offering...
...But on the other hand, what if Father God were to have a beef with us?
"Now a word from our sponsor..." (for those old enough to remember the TV phrase)
John 15:1-4 (NLT)
1“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. 3 You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me."
If we're proving ourselves to be unfruitful and unproductive according to Father God's purpose for creating us in the first place, what good are we to Him really? Why would He keep us, let alone reward us? - Now there's a potential "beef" that should concern us all very seriously. Any "beefs" we may have between us as human beings, however serious, must pale by comparison to the potentially devastating consequences of that one.
John 15:6-9 (NLT)
6 "If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. 9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love."
Is it possible to be an unproductive "Christian"? Is it possible... to actually believe everything that Christ told us, while claiming to follow Him... and still be unproductive? Could it possibly be even worse - to be unproductive and share a blight, by a leading example, that causes others to be unfruitful as well? Are we being fruitful and productive in those things close to the Father's heart? What are the consequences if we're not? - Things we should consider.
Sitting next to the phone and ignoring it when it rings doesn't constitute a "connection". It's only by actively answering the telephone and participating in the call that we're "connected" with the other party on the line.
Jesus is calling... and He expect us to answer and "participate" if we're to be connected to Him...
The branches that remain un-severed have the opportunity to receive an inheritance through connection to Christ - one for which we, the undeserving have only to ask and come in the name of, and kinship to Christ to fully possess. It's through a true connection and our response in "active participation" with Him that we flourish to bear fruit.
We can bear fruit every day right where we are. Pastors, Evangelists and Missionaries aren't the only branches expected to bear fruit. Having Christ's mind, heart and spirit isn't a limited calling or occupation. We're all called and we're all expected to participate with those things toward the people and situations that cross our paths every day. It may take some practice and repetition to change those habits and attitudes that don't reflect Christ right away, but staying connected and actively participating to the best of our ability and as He helps us to do what may not come natural, we'll find ourselves changed and continually blessed.
Transformation doesn't necessarily take place in an instant. It usually takes time. We likely won't wake up tomorrow suddenly perfect. Jesus knows we're not perfect and that we may make mistakes. But our active participation demonstrates that we actually believe Him and belong to Him. And the longer we stay truly connected to Him, the more of Him is able to flow into us as we allow it... enabling us to become more fruitful, much to His great pleasure.
Are we truly connected?... Or does our God have a 'beef" with us?
Any reminiscent chuckles aside, my quest and question here concerns another definition of the word "Beef"...
From vocabulary.com:
"beef
Beef is meat from a cow. It's also a word for a complaint. If you have a beef with someone, you’re not sharing a steak, you have a gripe. Just don’t beef to a cow; her problems are worse.
Beef is a type of meat from cattle. If you've ever had a hamburger, you've had beef. The word beef comes from the Old French word buef, which became the word for basically, cow meat. Beef is to cow as pork is to pig or mutton is to sheep. On the other hand, if you have a beef with someone, you have a complaint. Beefing is expressing such feelings." (The underline is mine)
Fully recognizing the origin and truth of our existence, position and source of continual provision, it's really not our place to "complain". A position of gratitude should be our continual stance and offering...
...But on the other hand, what if Father God were to have a beef with us?
"Now a word from our sponsor..." (for those old enough to remember the TV phrase)
John 15:1-4 (NLT)
1“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. 3 You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me."
If we're proving ourselves to be unfruitful and unproductive according to Father God's purpose for creating us in the first place, what good are we to Him really? Why would He keep us, let alone reward us? - Now there's a potential "beef" that should concern us all very seriously. Any "beefs" we may have between us as human beings, however serious, must pale by comparison to the potentially devastating consequences of that one.
John 15:6-9 (NLT)
6 "If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. 9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love."
Is it possible to be an unproductive "Christian"? Is it possible... to actually believe everything that Christ told us, while claiming to follow Him... and still be unproductive? Could it possibly be even worse - to be unproductive and share a blight, by a leading example, that causes others to be unfruitful as well? Are we being fruitful and productive in those things close to the Father's heart? What are the consequences if we're not? - Things we should consider.
Sitting next to the phone and ignoring it when it rings doesn't constitute a "connection". It's only by actively answering the telephone and participating in the call that we're "connected" with the other party on the line.
Jesus is calling... and He expect us to answer and "participate" if we're to be connected to Him...
The branches that remain un-severed have the opportunity to receive an inheritance through connection to Christ - one for which we, the undeserving have only to ask and come in the name of, and kinship to Christ to fully possess. It's through a true connection and our response in "active participation" with Him that we flourish to bear fruit.
We can bear fruit every day right where we are. Pastors, Evangelists and Missionaries aren't the only branches expected to bear fruit. Having Christ's mind, heart and spirit isn't a limited calling or occupation. We're all called and we're all expected to participate with those things toward the people and situations that cross our paths every day. It may take some practice and repetition to change those habits and attitudes that don't reflect Christ right away, but staying connected and actively participating to the best of our ability and as He helps us to do what may not come natural, we'll find ourselves changed and continually blessed.
Transformation doesn't necessarily take place in an instant. It usually takes time. We likely won't wake up tomorrow suddenly perfect. Jesus knows we're not perfect and that we may make mistakes. But our active participation demonstrates that we actually believe Him and belong to Him. And the longer we stay truly connected to Him, the more of Him is able to flow into us as we allow it... enabling us to become more fruitful, much to His great pleasure.
Are we truly connected?... Or does our God have a 'beef" with us?
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