Isaiah 25:6 English Standard Version (ESV) On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined.

What matters in this verse? The expressions used by God to encourage each of us to keep striving for the top of the mountain. What entices one might not be the same for another. While I love food I do not care for wine. Rich food can upset my stomach, so I am picky. There is one wine I do enjoy, an ice wine taken from the grapes harvest after the first frost. One in particular from Oregon is better than all the rest. Will it be there?

Speaking of being there, did you pay attention to the part of that verse that said “all peoples”? Did it mean every person or some from each tribe and tongue? Was our concern for who gets to the mountain overshadowed by our desire to be satisfied by our tastes?

When does our concern for the salvation of others overtake our desires of the flesh? We hunger even during mission trips but who we enjoy at the table should be more important than what is on the table.

We each should answer for ourselves before we come before the Lord and have to answer to Him.

Psalm 1:3 King James Version (KJV) And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Leaving off from yesterday’s devotional about the use of gifts, it is best to follow the order that our God has purposed in us. Man is like a tree. The similitude draws in several principles of horticulture which are easily researched and understanding of God’s planning.

A tree must have roots to draw up nourishment from the roots. Primary requirement of tree life is water and without it the tree will wither and die. The river close by provides that water which is represented to us in scripture as the Spirit of God. In Genesis 1:2 it was the Spirit of God that moved upon the waters.

Ephesians 3:17 English Standard Version (ESV) so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

The first nutrient for man is love. It is also the first fruit of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:22-23 English Standard Version (ESV)

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Is the fruit of a tree to be consumed by the tree or for the benefit of others? So often the novice will see the fruits of the spirit as being beneficial to themselves. It is true that this love moves through us, from our roots all the way up and comes out through all that we do. It is meant to makes us stronger and more productive but the ultimate purpose of fruit production for all trees is propagation of the type of tree we are, Christian.

Returning back to Psalm 1:3 note that the fruit is brought forth when the tree is in season. Each of us has our own season, determined by growth and nourishment and light. That is why the leaves do not whither, because they are daily exposed to the light.

Psalm 119:105 English Standard Version (ESV) Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.