A Spiritual Cornucopia

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without me ye can do nothing. John 15: 4-5

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peach, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22, 23

…and beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness charity. For if all these things be in you, and abound, thy make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:5-8

During the Thanksgiving season the cornucopia filled with fruit and grain is used as a decoration to symbolize the abundance of the harvest. The colorful fruit and bundles of grain spilling out of the horn of plenty” make us mindful of the blessings that we received and remind us to be ever thankful for them.

Consider the scripture selections for today it the context of a spiritual cornucopia. John 15:4, 5 starts us at the pointed end of the cornucopia. Jesus tells us that he is the vine and we are the branches and teaches that when we abide in him and he abides in us much fruit will be brought forth. He also instructs us that we can do nothing without him. In Paul’s letter to the Galatians qualities that constitute the fruit of the Spirit are named. This “fruit” fills the body of the cornucopia. If we want the fruit to grow, we must abide in Jesus and strive to live lives that imitate him. With the selection from 2 Peter 1:5-8 we have reached the large circular opening of the cornucopia and the contents are flowing from it. Peter instructs us to put our faith in action and to develop the character qualities which will help us to live fruitful life of love and serve to God and man. Are we abiding in Christ so the fruit of the Spirit will grow? Are we helping the cornucopia to overflow abundantly by placing our faith in action?

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of your son Jesus Christ.  Empower and enable us to grow in the fruit of the Spirit and to share these qualities by our actions so others may also live the abundant life. Amen

Gail Keown (reprinted from 2008)