I am Here to be Useful

The Lord asks Ezekiel a question in the beginning of chapter 15:

Ezekiel 15:2 (ESV) “Son of man, how does the wood of the vine surpass any wood, the vine branch that is among the trees of the forest?

The image of a vine is an often-used picture of Israel. God planted her, dressed her, and built a wall around her. Isaiah describes in detail what the Lord did for Israel as His chosen vine in Isaiah 5:1-7. 

A vine is not a thick tree with very useful wood. It's thin, and its only use is in what it produces, the fruit of the vine. Israel had ceased bearing fruit and, therefore, had become useless to the Lord's intentions for her. 

Ezekiel 15:3 (ESV) Is wood taken from it to make anything? Do people take a peg from it to hang any vessel on it?

Never forget, the Lord calls and saves to see fruitfulness and contribution to the world. Israel, though their existence alone was God's purpose, had forgotten to bless and inform the nations about Him and, therefore, were no longer useful and destined for the fire. 

Ezekiel 15:4 (ESV) Behold, it is given to the fire for fuel. When the fire has consumed both ends of it, and the middle of it is charred, is it useful for anything?

By the time of this writing, Israel had already become engulfed in the flames of God's judgment through Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar had already exiled two large portions of their population and set a siege around the city of Jerusalem. The fire was consuming both ends of the nation. 

Then Ezekiel states the Lord's intention is to thoroughly ravage the land and wipe out the nation into exile:

Ezekiel 15:6–7 (ESV) Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Like the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so have I given up the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 7 And I will set my face against them. Though they escape from the fire, the fire shall yet consume them, and you will know that I am the LORD, when I set my face against them.

Remember, Christian, you are not here just to be a Christian. You are here to bear fruit and to live with purpose! You are here to be useful to the Lord. You should identify that fact about you, "I am here for God's purposes, to produce Godly fruit in my life." You are not a nobody, you are not just existing. Your life is intended to bless and prosper others. The world needs you as the ancient world needed Israel's witness to the God of heaven. 

But the key to our usefulness is in our abiding in the Lord.

John 15:1–3 (ESV) “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.

Then he told them: 

John 15:5 (ESV) I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

Jesus told them the love He has for them is their resting place for production in their lives. 

John 15:8–9 (ESV) By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.

How do we remain useful to the Lord? By resting in His love for us. By staying close to Him and listening to His voice in the Word and through the Holy Spirit. The Lord wants to speak life into you. He wants to cleanse you, guard you, lead you, and prosper you in fruitful living that declares His goodness to the world. 

That's why we are here. 

Colossians 1:10 (ESV) walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God...

Lord, flow through me!