Bearing Fruit

Spring. This is a special time of year. Not just because of the warmer weather, the budding of the trees, the blooming of the flowers, or the nearness of the last day of school, but also because it's time for gardening. Now, the turning and tilling of fresh earth might not bring joyful tears to everybody's eyes but it does for some. And surely everyone does look forward to the first fresh green onion or homegrown tomatoes!

So what is a garden, really? Is it the broken warm earth, plowed with neatly spaced straight furrows? The seeds that nestle among grains of soil? The plants or sprouts that spring up and then wax and wane according to the sun, wind, rain, weeds, bugs, and fertilizer? Are we satisfied with the full grown stalks, vines, and plants? No, we're looking for something more. Something of value. We're looking for the fruit. For what is a garden that bears no fruit?

God's Word has a lot to say about fruit in our lives, and it's usually not talking about what we eat, but rather what we produce. As we look again and again at the parables Jesus told, we find how individuals were judged because their condition was reflected in the actions of their lives. In Matthew 24 and 25, the evil slave, the five foolish virgins, the unfaithful slave, and the "goats" were not judged by where they were, what they were called, what they planned to do, or what they thought or believed to be true. They were judged according to their condition which was evident in the fruit of their lives. Yet each was SURPRISED by the verdict!

In Matthew 7, Jesus said, 1) few enter the narrow gate to Heaven; 2) they can be known by the fruit of their lives, and 3) many who call Him "Lord" do not really know Him. One of Satan's greatest weapons is the satisfaction we can find in a false sense of security. Are we being deceived by what we "hope," "think," "feel," or "would like to believe" is true in our lives and in the lives of those we love? God's Word ways the truth can be seen in the fruit we bear.

What should we look for? I John 5:13 says, "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order tht you may KNOW that you have eternal life." Some of the things John writes about are:

• Fellowship (1:7)
• Obedience (2:3)]
• Christ-likeness (2:6)
• Righteousness (2:29)
• Ministry & service (3:17)
• Sharing of faith (4:15)
• Love for others (5:1)

We are not saved by the works we do, but God's children bear fruit that is characteristic of the change that has taken place in their hearts. Who is a child of God?

"I am the vine, you are the branches, he who abides in me and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing... By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples." John 15:5 & 8)

From May 8, 1990

Economics and Eternity

"Economics, inflation, recession, and depression" are familiar words to all of us. I've heard that the situation is a "recession" when our neighbor gets the lay-off, but it becomes a "depression" when the lay-off hits home, and I once saw how quickly attitudes toward the future can change. The usually comfortable atmosphere I worked in suddenly became tense and full of worry when management started talking about laying off employees in each department. The "future" that everyone took for granted was suddenly one of great concern.

I wonder how many people take eternity for granted. Perhaps may do not give it any thought because they never hear the subject mentioned. Just as workers are comfortable until the security of their jobs is questioned, some people may go throughout life without considering eternity unless someone asks where they're going to spend it. Don't we discuss the future of the people we're close to? Well, what about the hereafter, when all these other things have passed away? Do we care enough to talk about it?

"But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?" I John 3:17

This verse tells us that if we have riches to share with a brother in need, God expects us to do so. If we have the love of God in our hearts, we should want to do so. The greatest treasure is salvation. Share it with someone!

From October 5, 1982

Praying with Confidence for One Another

God tells us many things about effective prayers. He encourages us to join together in a bond of prayer (Matt. 18:19-20; James 5:14-16) We must ask according to His will (I John 5:14-15). We must ask in Jesus' name (John 14:13-14). We must ask in faith (Matt. 21:22). We must ASK (Matt. 7:7; James 4:2)!

We can see many examples of what the Lord does in a church where believers bond together in prayer for the same thing, applying the principles mentioned above (Acts 2:42-47; 4:23-35; 6:1-8; 12:5-17). This is the type of unity that Jesus asked the Heavenly Father to give us in John 17. It is the same type of unity that Paul spoke of in 1 Corinthians 12 & 13.

We can pray for one another by name the same prayer that Paul prayed for the members of the church at Colossae. It is a prayer we know is in accordance with God's will for our lives. This is a prayer we can pray in faith. This is a prayer God will answer:

Lord, May _____ be filled with the knowledge of Your will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that he/she will walk in a manner worthy of You, to please You in all respects. May _____ bear fruit in every good work and may he/she increase in the knowledge of You. Lord, strengthen him/her with all power, according to Your glorious might, that _____ might attain steadfastness and patience. May _____ give thanks to You, our Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. (Col. 1:9-12)