Fruit-Bearing Grace (Colossians 1:6)

Today’s scripture: Colossians 1:6

When we commit our lives to God, when we accept the truth of the gospel, God uses us to bear fruit.

As we’ve talked about many times, true followers of Christ have been given spiritual gifts: preaching, teaching, helping, giving, and encouraging—to name but a few. When we use those gifts to serve God and others, we bear fruit. Lives are touched. Lives are changed.

Let’s be clear: God doesn’t need us or our gifts. But, in His grace, He chooses to allow us to participate in the building of His Kingdom. He uses us to bless others and glorify Himself.

It’s an honor and a blessing to know that God uses me with all my flaws and foibles to serve others. He uses my gifts—such as they are—to touch lives.

Do you know your spiritual gifts? Is God using you to “bring forth fruit”? If not, take some time to discover how He can and will use you.

Reaping Fruit (2 Timothy 2:6)

Today’s scripture: 2 Timothy 2:6

I get the idea of being a soldier and serving my “superior Officer.” I even understand being an athlete and having to play by the rules. But I have to say, I was a bit stumped by the “hard-working farmer … [being] the first to receive his share of the crops.”

I mean, we’re not supposed to be thinking of rewards or what we can get when we serve the Lord, right?

So I took a look at one of my favorite commentaries, Matthew Henry Concise Commentary. And it began to make sense: “If we would partake the fruits, we must labour … We must do the will of God, before we receive the promises, for which reason we have need of patience.”

When we serve God with willing hearts, we will see fruit for our labor. When we use the gifts He’s given us, we’ll see results.

When I speak or sing or write, I’m sometimes privileged to be told that God has encouraged someone through me. I see fruit for my labor. But it's not just when God speaks through me. A couple of months ago, I was in the audience listening to another gifted speaker. Afterward, she came to me to thank me for listening with love. She was encouraged because I listened intently and supported her with my smile and body language. I saw fruit from my “labor” using my gift of encouragement.

God will use our gifts when we labor for Him. And we’ll be blessed to see fruit—firsthand.

Hope ... (Colossians 1:3-8)

Today's scripture: Colossians 1:3-8

As I read through these verses, several phrases "pop":

"... we heard of your faith in Jesus Christ and the love you have for all the saints ... the gospel which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing ... your love in the Spirit ..."

What wonderful words of affirmation! The recipients of Paul's letter must have been encouraged when they read these words. Wouldn't you love it if these words were spoken about you? That you were a faithful servant, loving your brothers and sisters in Christ? That because you were spreading the gospel, God was bearing fruit through you?

I know I want to live in a way that others would see God's faithfulness and love through me. I pray I'm bearing fruit to grow God's kingdom.

But do you know which words most touch my heart today? "... the hope laid up in heaven ..."

The older I get and the longer I reside on this rapidly-declining earth, the more I hope for heaven. And my hope is two-fold. I hope for the shedding of this earthly flesh and spending eternity with my Lord. And I hope for the time when I can see how God has borne fruit through me. I don't know how many lives God has touched through me, but I look forward to the day when I stand in heaven and someone–and maybe it's just one–comes up to me and says, "Thank you for being faithful to God's call on your life. It's because of you that I'm here today."

Are you fulfilling God's call on your life? Are you seeking His will so that you too can be called faithful and loving on earth, and one day, you'll too see the fruit of your earthly labors?

Bearing Fruit (Psalm 1:3)

Today's scripture: Psalm 1:3

People blessed by God don’t spend time with those who ridicule God. They do spend time delighting in God’s word, and when they focus on God, he “firmly plants” them. He nurtures and helps them grow into people He can use.

When we focus on God and His will for us, He uses us in ways we cannot even imagine.

I never expected to speak for Him. I never expected to be able to mentor young women. I never expected to write a week-day devotional.

Yet, because I’ve learned to keep my focus on Him, because I’ve learned to delight in His word, He’s chosen to allow me to do things I absolutely love in service to Him

Even more, He’s allowed me to see some fruit from my efforts. I won’t know everything He’s done through me this side of heaven, but I’ve seen enough. Comments made. Tears of joy shared. Lives changed.

By Him. Through me.

As I’ve watched Him work, I’ve seen the areas of ministry He’s given me prosper. No, not prosper financially, as some would define that word. But prosper spiritually. Emotionally.

And I am blessed. I pray you're blessed as well.

Prospering ... God's Way (Psalm 1:3)

Today's scripture: Psalm 1:3

People blessed by God don’t spend time with those who ridicule God. They do spend time delighting in God’s word, and when they focus on God, he “firmly plants” them. He nurtures and helps them grow into people He can use.

When we focus on God and His will for us, He uses us in ways we cannot even imagine.

I never expected to speak for Him. I never expected to be able to mentor young women. I never expected to write a week-day devotional.

Yet, because I’ve learned to keep my focus on Him, because I’ve learned to delight in His word, He’s chosen to allow me to do things I absolutely love in service to Him

Even more, He’s allowed me to see some fruit from my efforts. I won’t know everything He’s done through me this side of heaven, but I’ve seen enough. Comments made. Tears of joy shared. Lives changed.

By Him. Through me.

As I’ve watched Him work, I’ve seen the areas of ministry He’s given me prosper. No, not prosper financially, as some would define that word. But prosper spiritually. Emotionally.

And I am blessed.

Bearing Fruit (John 15:1-5)

Today's scripture: John 15:1-5

For the next two days, our focus is on verses that are probably very familiar to many of us. As often happens, though, sometimes the things that are most familiar require deeper investigation. We do, after all, take what's closest to us for granted.

So, let's meditate carefully on today's verses (and we'll do the same tomorrow). Do me a favor. Read these verses a few times. If you're so inclined, read them in a couple of other translations (the link is for the New American Standard Bible). Observe what John is saying.

Jesus says that He is the true vine, the Father is the vinedresser, and we are the branches. If you've never been to a vineyard, these terms may not mean much, but His disciples would have walked often through vineyards. In fact, the route they would have taken after leaving the upper to the Mount of Olives took them through "ancient vineyards" (Secrets of the Vine, © 2001 Bruce Wilkinson, p. 13). It's not hard to imagine that Jesus stopped and used the vines as illustration as He spoke.

Jesus is the true vine. The vine is the part that sinks its roots deeply into the soil. It gathers water and nutrients, and if it's not healthy, the branches cannot thrive.

The Father is the vinedresser. He is the keeper of the vineyard, and He provides what is needed to make the vine grow and the branches to bear fruit.

We are the branches. We are dependent on the vine, and when we cling to Jesus, we are strong and continue to grow in faith.

As we cling to Jesus, we bear fruit. If we don't cling to Him and grow, we won't bear fruit. This logically leads to an important question: What is that "fruit"? This is open for debate. I've heard this fruit is only those people we lead to Jesus. If that's true, does this mean that someone who is bedridden and hasn't had the opportunity to share her faith doesn't bear fruit? What if she is a gifted prayer-warrior and her prayers for unsaved friends and family lead to their salvation? Or if a very introverted, very faithful servant quietly cleans the children's ministry room every week, which allows the teachers to focus on sharing the gospel with the kids, does the fact that he doesn't actually teach negate his work?

I appreciate Bruce Wilkinson's interpretation of this passage's reference to fruit:

For years I read this passage as a general call to Christians to bring others to Christ. But there's no reason to restrict Jesus' meaning of fruit to winning souls. I have traced the words fruit and good works in the Bible, and they're used interchangeably. Take, for instance, ... Titus 3:14 ... In practical terms, fruit represents good works—a thought, attitude, or action of ours that God values because it glorifies Him. The fruit from your life is how God receives His due honor on earth ... You bear inner fruit when you allow God to nurture in you a new, Christlike quality ... You bear outward fruit when you allow God to work through you to bring Him glory. That would certainly include sharing your faith. (pp. 20-21)

No matter how one defines fruit in these verses, however, it's clear that none of us can do anything to truly glorify God without being intimately entwined with Jesus. And to be intimately entwined, we need to abide in Him. Spend time with Him. Surrender to Him. Focus on Him.

Completely and irrevocably commit to Him.

Only then we will bear God-nurtured fruit.

Hope Laid Up in Heaven (Colossians 1:3-8)

Today's scripture: Colossians 1:3-8

As I read through these verses, several phrases "pop":

• "... we heard of your faith in Jesus Christ and the love you have for all the saints ..."

• "... the gospel which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing ..."

• "... your love in the Spirit ..."

What wonderful words of affirmation! The recipients of Paul's letter must have been encouraged when they read these words. Wouldn't you love it if these words were spoken about you? That you were a faithful servant, loving your brothers and sisters in Christ? That because you were spreading the gospel, God was bearing fruit through you? 

I know I want to live in a way that others would see God's faithfulness and love through me. I pray I'm bearing fruit to grow God's kingdom.

But do you know which words most touch my heart today? "... the hope laid up in heaven ..."

The older I get and the longer I reside on this rapidly-declining earth, the more I hope for heaven. And my hope is two-fold. I hope for the shedding of this earthly flesh and spending eternity with my Lord. And I hope for the time when I can see how God has borne fruit through me. I don't know how many lives God has touched through me, but I look forward to the day when I stand in heaven and someone–and maybe it's just one–comes up to me and says, "Thank you for being faithful to God's call on your life. It's because of you that I'm here today."

Are you fulfilling God's call on your life? Are you seeking His will so that you too can be called faithful and loving on earth, and one day, you'll too see the fruit of your earthly labors?