“…I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit – fruit that will last…”
John 15:16 (NIV)
Disciples of Christ, the fruits of salvation are typically understood as the positive character traits that should naturally develop in a person who has been saved by Jesus Christ, often described as “the fruit of the Spirit” in the Bible, including love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self -control (Galatians 5:22-23).
Jesus declared in John 15 that if we live in Him, He will live in us. He announced that we are unable to bear fruit unless we are connected to Him and gave an illustration of disciples being branches and Him being the vine. Practically, the branches that do not bear fruit are those that attach themselves to the church but are not connected to the source of life, God. God, as the “Gardener,” will remove these fruitless branches and cast them into the fire, while those who are producing fruit will be pruned to produce even more fruit.
Beloved, as Christians, we are duty-bound to reflect Christ in every aspect of our daily lives. We must self-introspect to see whether we harbor unforgiveness and/or any ill feelings towards others. If we are guilty, repent and ask God to cleanse us from all unrighteousness so that we can be in right standing with Him. We are warned in Ephesians 5:11 (NIV) that we must “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.”
Jesus has set the standard that identifies us with Him. He declared, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” – John 13:35 (NKJV). Apostle Paul also informs us, in summary, that it matters not what ministry, talents, and/or gifts we possess; if we don’t have love, we have nothing (1st Corinthians 13).
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we pray for those who have in the past been used and abused – and the memory of these horrible experiences has been deeply etched in their psyche, thus affecting their ability to be effective witnesses for Christ. We place their clay-led lives into the Potter’s (Jesus’s) hands today so that they may be remodeled and fashioned after Your likeness. Let Your Refiners fire, burn out the dross of sin, hurt, and pain in their souls. Let there be a total makeover in Jesus’ name, Amen!
Read: Genesis 22:17-18; 1 Corinthians 13:2
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 29; Mark 11:27-33; Mark 12:1-12; Leviticus 9; Leviticus 10
