TODAY’S WORD FOR WEDNESDAY JULY 24, 2013
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
and Godly character.
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 produces the
fruit of righteousness which results not only a change in our attitudes but
also a change in 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 productive crops. To
accomplish this he must have the right soil, rain, sunshine, seasons,
cultivation, and God’s blessing. 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.
Jesus uses the imagery of the necessity
for the branch to remain a part of the vine in order to be productive. In order
for us to be productive and bear fruit for the Lord, we must remain attached to
Him. 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 15:1-8 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 Hebrews 10:36
For you have need of endurance, so that
when you have done the will of God, you may have received what was promised.
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 produce in us the fruit of righteousness so that others will see Christ in
us.
