~Catch all the foxes, those little foxes, before they ruin the vineyard of love, for the grapevines are blossoming! Song of Solomon 2:15
The book of Song of Solomon is mostly about lovers who finally find each other and who openly profess their God-given love to each other. I think it’s pretty interesting how God, in all of His glorious majesty, inserts this little tidbit that can apply to all aspects of life.
You see, through the wake of this whole Bruce Jenner drama, we as Christians often focus on the big sins. We point the finger and judge because the so-called heavier sins of others are out there in plain sight. We condemn murder, homosexuality, molestation, theft, abortion, etc.
But….
What about lying? What about being on the internet at work, aka, stealing? Why aren’t we so up in arms about promiscuity, isn’t that sexual sin just like the other ones we openly condemn? The bible also says, “be not drunk with wine” too ya know…
What I’ve learned from Bruce’s story, is that sin is sin, no matter how you slice it. And our first agenda as Christians should be to love others walking in sin. Not to condone it, but to show them who Christ is and the forgiving, cleansing power He has to restore us.
So back to these pesky foxes. You see, God knew exactly what He was doing when he made this statement. Little things, slowly but surely will almost always add up to big ones. The white lie we tell about being late to work, will soon make us more comfortable lying to a spouse about some inner office flirting with a coworker. Overindulging in a little junk food here, and a little there, will soon add up to health issues. And the entire combination of all of these “little foxes” can overtake our lives and consume us in self-satisfaction until our “vineyard of love” is ruined.
Little sins can add up till we are so self-consumed there is little room in our hearts to love Jesus, much less others. Farmers spend so much time carefully cultivating their grapes, much like our Father has spent time helping us to be more like Jesus. I’m sure you’ve also spent lots of time trying to get closer to the Lord as well. The little foxes can come and destroy a vineyard, and all of the farmer’s work in no time.
I invite you to truly spend some time in prayer with our Lord, ask Him to reveal the little foxes in your life. Write down 3-5 things you did this week, ask God for forgiveness, and then take steps to correct these areas. Remember, we can’t do anything without Jesus. “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5. Remaining in Him is remaining in His word. Look up some scriptures that can help you combat these little sins and post them on your phone or throughout the house. Meditate on them during prayer time, and I promise, because He is faithful, that you will have victory!
~Happy Reading My Friends