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.

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.

A Tree Firmly Planted (Ps. 1:3)

He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season
And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers.
(Psalm 1:3, NASB)

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 daily 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.

And 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.

And 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.

Neither Useless nor Unfruitful (2 Peter 1:8-9)

For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.
(2 Peter 1:8-9, NASB)

The exhortation continues …

Not only should we have all the qualities we talked about yesterday, but they should also be increasing in us. But look at the outcome: We will be useful and fruitful. Our knowledge of Christ, our perseverance, our brotherly love can be used by God to build His kingdom.

What a gift!

I have the privilege of speaking at women’s groups throughout each year. I am so blessed when women tell me how God has inspired them and encouraged them through the words He has given me. It’s amazing to me God chooses to use the broken and flawed to fulfill His purpose. Each time I have the wonderful gift of speaking, I’m humbly grateful. He’s made me fruitful.

But Peter doesn’t stop there. And this is the heartbreaking part of these verses. If we “lack these qualities,” we are blind. We have “forgotten [our] purification from … former sins.”

Oh, may that never be true! May we never forget what Christ has done for us! May our remembering His sacrifice on our behalf create in us an urgency to be all those things: loving, patient, kind, growing in knowledge.

It’s the least we can do to show our gratitude.