FRUIT OR USEFULNESS
FRUIT OR USEFULNESS
“First the blade, then an ear, then full corn in the ear” (Mark 4: 28). The last is fruit or usefulness; and all the previous growths were working to this end. The blade is the first manifestation of a distinct new existence here; and so it is when a christian takes a stand for the Lord. If you had not been born again in secret, like the grain in the soil, hidden from every eye, there could have been no blade. The blade at once declares your generation, as I may say. It is the first appearance of this new being here, but its first appearance (the blade) tells what it is; in your case it is seen that you are of Christ - a christian. Every one that can distinguish between one blade and another, immediately marks you off as a christian.
[p. 405] Many are very long before they are thus distinctly manifested, and sometimes they are very pleased with themselves, or their progress, when they have arrived at this definite growth, which answers to the blade, that is, to be distinctly recognised as a christian; but this is not enough. As the blade becomes really established an entirely new phase is reached, and that is the ear. The ear indicates that I am set for being useful; not useful yet. It is the purpose to be useful that the ear sets forth; as the blade has weathered many variations of climate, wind, rain, and sun, before it has reached the ear, so has the christian experienced many trials and hindrances, and surmounted them, before he has reached as visible his fixed purpose - to be of use here. In other words, to be for Christ here and to serve Him. When he has come to this, he has advanced from dwelling in and caring about himself and how things relate to him. To be for Christ is now the great purpose of his life. This is the ear. Where the purpose is simply this, the usefulness comes, which is the full corn in the ear. I believe the hindrance to most is the lack of single-eyed purpose to answer to the purpose of the Lord in leaving them here.
The Lord give you simple purpose to be here for Him; not only here definitely as one of His, but so devoted to Him that He may use you - that you may, like Ruth, be ready to do the smallest service which comes to your hand, because it is the one that is suitable at the time and pleasing to Him - not thinking of yourself, but how you may be here according to His pleasure.