Fruitful: June 3, 2011

JUNE 3 2011. TODAYS WORD FOR FRIDAY JUNE 3, 2011

FRUITFUL

DEFINITION:

Producing good results; beneficial, profitable, abounding in fruit; producing abundant growth.

SCRIPTURE:

“And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundred fold, some sixty, some thirty.” Matthew 13: 7-8.

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

We want to look at the word fruitful today as it refers to being spiritual fruitful. In the verse above (John 15:5), Jesus says He is the vine and we are the branches and if we abide in Him we will bear much fruit. When we read these words we think of bearing fruit producing spiritual results as relating to bringing others to know Christ. As believers that is what we are called to do.

The key words in this verse are “abide in Him.” Abiding in Him gives evidence to our salvation and results in us bearing fruit. This fruit is not just soul winning but abiding or remaining in Christ produces spiritual fruit that includes spiritual attitudes.

The apostle Paul tells us that “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, fruitfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22). Abiding in Christ also produces the fruit of righteousness when not only our attitudes change but also our actions.

In Hebrews 12:11 we read, “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

When we think of being fruitful we think of a farmer. For a farmer to be successful he must have successful crops. To accomplish this he must have the right soil, rain, sunshine, seasons, cultivation, and then the blessing of God. Even a farmer today who is not a believer in Jesus will tell you that he needs the blessings of God on his crops if they are to be successful. He may refer to “Mother Nature” because he does not know God, but what he is really saying is that he needs God to bless his crop to have success.

When one becomes a believer in Jesus he or she must first have a deep desire to abide in Christ and to live a life that honors Him so that one’s life can be fruitful. Our desire should be “to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” (Colossians 1:10)

As do the farmers, a believer must have the right soil; a personal relationship with Jesus. They must have the rain and sunshine; this is the daily communication with God through prayer and reading God’s Word. Then there must be the sowing and the cultivation; the going out among the world and walking in your faith and talking about your faith in Christ. Finally, you need the blessing of God. It is God’s blessing that brings a bountiful fruitful harvest.

This is a rough example but it works. Do you want to be fruitful? Are you committed to serve God with all your heart, soul and mind? Have you experienced fruit in your Christian life? Read John 15:5 and you will see what the Lord says you need to do to bear fruit. Bearing fruit is not an option given to the believer. Our Lord expects us to bear fruit and He is standing near to make us fruitful.

LEARNING: Our memory verse for this week is found in Matthew 5:9.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God.

PRAYER:

Help me and my family today to abide in You. It is our prayer that as we endeavor to abide in You that You will abide in us so that we can be fruitful in furthering Your kingdom. Bless us this day and guide us (our family) in every step we take and every word we speak.