Be fruitful and multiply.” It’s the first instruction God gave to the earth’s premier couple in Genesis. But today, hearing that command will either cause tittering among elementary school children or eye rolling among those old enough to realize the earth obviously doesn’t need to add to its 7.8 billion population. What a quaint idea.

But interestingly enough, the same metaphor is used in John 15 as Jesus gives his last talk with his disciples. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit” (verse 5). “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19 NIV). Sounds to me like “Be fruitful and multiply” all over again, this time in the spiritual sense.

This is a math equation. We are told to multiply. So dust off those times tables and MULTIPLY the GOODNESS of GOD today in the lives of those you interact with. Don’t just add or subtract. Go for the big guns. Do multiplication. You can MULTIPLY smiles, birthday celebrations, sorry-you-don’t-feel well cards, positive FaceTime calls, prayers, well wishes, porch visits, drive-by “hugs”. You can MULTIPLY the times you hold your tongue, take your hand away from the car horn, hit delete on a Facebook tirade, stand up for someone in trouble.
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“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22,23 NASB). 
Be fruitful and multiply love.
Be the Love.

What a selfish concept!
     When we talk about being blessed, it’s usually about something we’ve received, unless we’re saying “Bless you” to someone who sneezed, or throwing out “Bless your heart,” as a subtle put down.
     “I’m so blessed,” I hear people say. If you are blessed because you got a promotion or bought a big house or had a fabulous meal, what does that say about someone who doesn’t have those things? The unintended message is that I’m better than you are because I have something from God that you don’t have. Talking about material blessings can come across as selfish and egocentric.
     Don’t misunderstand me. I do believe God blesses us, but those blessings happen when were are living attuned to His Kingdom. Our relationships, the state of our heart, our recognition of beauty and joy in the world, the gratitude we feel for what we do have, the satisfaction that comes from sharing so that other people can have enough, those are the blessings that everyone has access to. By setting up the equation, “You’re blessed when you have things and not blessed when you don’t,” you project an image of a God who is unfair. It diminishes His character of love. Besides, it’s just flat out wrong. Jesus said of God, “For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike” (Matthew 5:45 NLT).
     Don’t give God a black eye.  Be the love.
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“Tell those rich in this world’s wealth to quit being so full of themselves and so obsessed with money, which is here today and gone tomorrow. Tell them to go after God, who piles on all the riches we could ever manage—to do good, to be rich in helping others, to be extravagantly generous. If they do that, they’ll build a treasury that will last, gaining life that is truly life” (I Timothy 6:17-19 MSG).
 
“For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings” (Romans 15:27 NIV).

Nap
My head settles into the pillow, my shoulder digging for the spot just below it.  My toes stretch into the coolness of the sheets. I can feel the muscles in my back relax and let go as the foam topper reaches up to cradle them. I breathe out a huge sigh, disgorging a mountain of emotions, worries, schedules, conflicts into the air conditioner-chilled room. My eyes flutter close, my fingers uncurl and I know that within three seconds I will float away into the enchanted land of the afternoon nap.
 
It’s a rare treat that’s “oh, so luxurious” to be able to close down the shop of my life for an hour or two and leave it all lurking outside the bedroom door, while I rejuvenate, recreate, reinvigorate my body and my soul. And I wonder as my consciousness begins to seep into my pillow, if I relax into God’s arms as easily as I do into my memory foam.
 
Encircled by His love.
 
My spirit needs a break from the constant temptation to worry, to trust in myself, to play the “what if” game, to keep counting the resources I have and trying to figure out how to gain more of them. I need to sink into His arms, uncurl my fingers from holding onto my own ideas, snuggle into His promises, let Him sing His sweet song over me, feel the tensions and trials slither away, and know that I have the security to close my eyes and drift into His love, trusting that He’s in charge of my body, mind, and spirit.
 
 “He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young” (Isaiah 40:11 NLT).
“He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God.
Many will look on in awe
and put their trust in Adonai” (Psalm 40:4 CJB).
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When I was seven, I got stuck in a tree. Somehow I climbed up to a branch that was too high and when I went to descend, pure terror overtook me.  My uncle had to lift me off the branch, much to my embarrassment. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve become more afraid of heights. During a visit to Paris, we did the tourist thing and climbed the Eiffel Tower. Did you know that the metal steps have small holes in them through which you can see the ground receding below you? While my family enjoyed ice skating on the tower’s small rink and going on up to the top level for majestic views of the Parisian skyline, I huddled in the safest place I could find, studiously trying to keep my eyes from drifting towards the ground. The feeling of all that empty air below still haunts me.
 
There’s plenty to look at in this world that’s terrifying; Covid-19, economic recession, cancer diagnosis, job loss, relationship failure, ______ fill in the blank. When you look down and look at the terrors that surround you, your heart will fail within you.
 
When my father taught me to drive, he instructed me to look where I wanted to go, not at what was closest. This advice has been life-saving the times I’ve passed a semi-truck during a heavy rainstorm. The windshield wipers flail wildly, spray from the truck hammers the glass, puddles jerk the tires out of alignment. I peer through the rivulets hoping for a glimpse of the open lane in front of me, my whole body leaning toward the clear road ahead.
 
Where are you looking? What is your gaze locked on? Look up. Look into the face of Jesus and see all that is light and holy and inspiring. Be grateful for what you have; let praise and thankfulness permeate your day. Let the horrors recede in the rearview mirror.
 
By wrenching your eyes away from the mesmerizing evil, your example and your encouragement can also be a hand up and a nudge on the chin for someone else whose gaze is transfixed on their panic. “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4:8 NIV).
 
“Always be joyful.  Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances” (I Thess. 5:16-18 NLT).
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