Given to a people that will produce its fruit

Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46

with deep roots, you will weather the storms

Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people:   "Hear another parable.  There was a land owner who planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower.  Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey.  When vintage time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce.  But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat, another they killed, and a third they stoned.  Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones, but they treated them in the same way.  Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking, 'They will respect my son.' But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, 'This is the heir.  Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.'  They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.  What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?"  They answered him, He will put those wretched men to a wretched death and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the proper times."  Jesus said to them, Did you never read in the Scriptures:

The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes?

Therefore, I say to you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit."  When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they knew that he was speaking about them.  And although they were attempting to arrest him, they feared the crowds, for they regarded him as a prophet.

Given to a people that will produce its fruit

Lord,

I want to produce fruit.  Help me Lord,, to overcome the droughts, the floods, the insects that swarm me and devour me, help me weather the winds that seek to pull me out from my roots.

Lord, I know all of those things make me stronger, even the dogs peeing on me make me more humble. 

Lord, I want to produce good fruit but how can I when I am spending so much energy trying to stay rooted and upright?

That alone is making you stronger.  The strength it takes to stand tall when the winds are blowing others horizontally is making you stronger.

You may not bear fruit this season but when the storm is over and your roots grow deeper, you will become more and more stable and strong and will be able to withstand a monsoon and a tsunami.  Others will hold on to you as the fierce winds blow them around.  Your leaves may blow off but your branches, your trunk and your roots will stay intact and you will bloom and bear fruit another day.  So don’t worry about today, just keep your eyes on me and I will carry you through any and all storms.