Some grapes left on the vine
By PASTOR LEON YODER Greencastle Church of the Brethren

I have several grape vines that I planted many years ago. The amount of grapes they bear will vary from year to year. The grape harvest is affected by many factors. Things like sufficient rainfall, proper pruning, fertilizer, protection from insects and plant diseases, and keeping hungry critters out of the garden all help to increase the potential harvest. I must confess that often times my grape vines suffer neglect. I don't always take care of them as well as I should. Sometimes there are weeds growing up around them and a stubborn thorn bush keeps trying to take over the space on the arbor I built for the vines to climb on. Sometimes the grapes get overtaken by Japanese Beatles and some years I think there might be some local whitetail deer with purple grape juice around their mouths.

This year I found many more grapes than I deserve for the amount of attention those vines have received from me. After gathering a small bucket heaping full, I barely made a change in the total amount still hanging on the vines. If I don't take the time and effort to harvest the rest of the grapes that are at this moment still hanging on my grape vines, they will eventually fall off and spoil.

I am reminded of just what kind of God I serve. I can never do enough good works to deserve his blessings and his gift of Salvation. He has so much more for me than I deserve. Some of the blessings he has for me I receive because I am lovingly serving and obeying him. However, the blessing of salvation and eternal life is a gift that cannot be earned. It comes only through a personal relationship with God's only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, who died and rose again. Don't miss the ultimate gift.

If I lose most of my crop of concord grapes because I am too busy to harvest them, it would be a sad waste. If I miss personal blessings God has for me because I am too busy for Him, it is a much bigger waste. However, if anyone misses having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and loses out on eternal life, it is a tragedy beyond words. That is one "grape" you won't want to miss.