Bearing Fruit

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."   (Galatians 5:22-23, NIV)  Once we have been born again, we already have the fruit of the Spirit.  It has to be used and developed by us though in order for the fruit to be shown in our lives.

As Jesus' disciples and Christ-followers, we need to bear fruit.  However, we cannot and will not bear fruit without remaining in a continuous relationship with Jesus.   “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.  (John 15:5, NIV)  

Jesus is the true vine.  Therefore, we must stay connected to Him.  "Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me."  (John 15:4, NIV)  Jesus' Father and ours is the gardener who cuts off every branch in us that doesn't bear fruit.  Every branch that does bear fruit, our Father prunes so that we will be even more fruitful.  (John 15:1-2) 

We don't need to just bear fruit, but we need to produce a lot of fruit in our lives.  "This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."  (John 15:8)

In addition, it isn't just any kind of fruit that we want and need to display either.  It's the good kind of fruit.  In order to bear good fruit, we have to be good disciples and followers of Jesus Christ.  He is the only one who can make us truly good.  “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.  (Matthew 12:33)

We will truly be known by the fruit that we bear in our lives.  "By their fruit you will recognize them.  Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?  Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them."  (Matthew 7:16-20)
  
Jesus wants us to produce fruit that doesn't end.   "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you."  (John 15:16)

The Apostle Paul encourages us to live as children of the light.  He tells us that the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth.  (Ephesians 5:8-9)

Let's choose to bear fruit but not just any fruit.  Choose to produce lots of good fruit in your life.  Decide to be a true disciple and follower of Jesus Christ by staying in relationship with Him.  Then, we will truly be Children of the Light as He is in the Light.  (1 Thessalonians 5:15)


Copyright 2013 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.