A New Year and Fresh Snow

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.  (Luke 12:48 NIV)

I have to work hard to look at my day the way God want's me to look at it.  I set priorities, then ask God's blessing on them.  I create a task list, then ask God to magically give me the time to get it all done.  On days when I start with me, things never seem to work out the way I want.

Other days are different.  When I begin by reading His Word, His Priorities become abundantly clear.  When I pray for those around me, the word "I" starts to disappear from my daily vocabulary.  At the end of these days, I find myself content...knowing I did what I was called to do that day.

The passage above, along with the parable of the talents, always seems to be a thorn in my side.  How do I know if I've been "given much" or "entrusted with much"?  It seems I have.  Hundreds of people have been entrusted into my care.  I've learned much from many wise and faithful teachers.  I have a beautiful wife, children, and family.  

How, then, do I know, then, what is being "demanded" or "asked"?  Well, I go back to His Word again and find reminders all over the place...

Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, 'For three years now I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?' "'Sir,' the man replied, 'leave it alone for one more year, and I'll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.'"  (Luke 13:6-9 NIV)

Bear fruit.  It doesn't say how much fruit.  It simply says that the man in this parable is looking for fruit from the tree.  That's what a fruit tree is supposed to produce.  What am I supposed to produce?  Love for God, Love for my brother/neighbor/enemy, and do good works in keeping with these relationships.  When I do, I am bearing fruit.  What can I do to nourish my tree so it will bear fruit?  Remove barriers to growth and fill my life with Him (Scripture, Prayer, Worship Music, etc.).  I must fill myself with nutrients before I have the ability to "bear fruit".

I'm grateful for the new year.  It's a time of new beginnings and a time to draw a line in the sand.  I'm looking out my window at the snow falling and covering the hills and valleys - the imperfections, if you will, of the landscape.  I guess it's time to stop staring at the imperfections in my life...the places I fall short.  Where I've sinned, I need to turn back to God.  Where I've not sinned, I need to remove those barriers to growth and move on.  I don't know how much I've been entrusted or given, but I do know it's time to bear fruit.  Welcome, 2012.  

Thank you, Lord, for the new year.  Help me to follow you all day, every day it brings.