Little Foxes

Song of Solomon 2:15, "Catch all the foxes, those little foxes, before they ruin the vineyards, for our vines have tender grapes".

I researched a little about foxes.  They are solitary beings, very silent, quick, clever, little, and they burrow.

It's when the tender grapes are on the vines that the foxes come and steal and destroy.  That's sounds like someone else we hear about in the Bible who comes to kill, steal, and destroy.  (John 10:10 states that "Satan has come to steal, kill, and destroy; but Christ has come to give us life abundantly".)  The fox waits until the vine starts producing some fruit, then steals it.  And, in the process, because he burrows, he destroys the root structure and the vine, the connection that gives the fruit its life and sweetness and nutrition.  His destruction prevents it from reproducing.

The verse says to catch ALL the foxes.  It only takes one to cause a lot of damage.  The more foxes, the more damage.  Now, the destruction isn't permanent, but it takes another season or two for the vine to regrow, the roots to go down deeper, and then to bear more fruit.

Now, why does that mean to us today?  If we can get delayed in our growth and not bear fruit, we won't feed as many souls.  We won't bring nourishment and refreshing to others.  We won't have the tools to carry through with our Kingdom purpose.  So, whatever the devil can do to delay any growth, he will do it. He knows the Word like we do.  In John 15, Jesus tells us to bear fruit, to bear more fruit, to bear much fruit.   The devil doesn't want us to bear any fruit, so he sends his foxes in to cause damage to stop progress.

What are your little foxes?  Is it an attitude that steals joy?  Is it unforgiveness that stops you from bearing fruit?  Is it a secret sin? Is it something that gets your focus off of God and Kingdom purpose?  Is it a relationship or job or hobby or habit that gets your focus off the right things?

What is stealing your productivity for God's Kingdom?
Psalm 139:23-24, "Search me, Oh God, and know my thoughts, and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting".