Bearing Fruit
Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. John 15:8
When we live by faith on the Son of God, the fruits of the Spirit will be seen in our lives; not one will be missing.
A profession of religion places men in the church, but the character and conduct show whether they are in connection with Christ. If they bear no fruit, they are false branches. Their separation from Christ involves a ruin as complete as that represented by the dead branch. "If a man abide not in Me," said Christ, "he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned."
"Herein is My Father glorified," said Jesus, "that ye bear much fruit." God desires to manifest through you the holiness, the benevolence, the compassion, of His own character. Yet the Saviour does not bid the disciples labor to bear fruit. He tells them to abide in Him. "If ye abide in Me," He says, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." It is through the word that Christ abides in His followers. This is the same vital union that is represented by eating His flesh and drinking His blood. The words of Christ are spirit and life. Receiving them, you receive the life of the Vine. (The Desire of Ages, 676, 677)
Reflection: Only by this connection to Christ are we able to keep His command to love one another as He loves us. Can people see that we have a real connection with Christ? Do we produce fruit? Are we doing something that will lead others to Christ? Today would be a good day to be determined to be a fruit brearer.
Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. John 15:8
When we live by faith on the Son of God, the fruits of the Spirit will be seen in our lives; not one will be missing.
A profession of religion places men in the church, but the character and conduct show whether they are in connection with Christ. If they bear no fruit, they are false branches. Their separation from Christ involves a ruin as complete as that represented by the dead branch. "If a man abide not in Me," said Christ, "he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned."
"Herein is My Father glorified," said Jesus, "that ye bear much fruit." God desires to manifest through you the holiness, the benevolence, the compassion, of His own character. Yet the Saviour does not bid the disciples labor to bear fruit. He tells them to abide in Him. "If ye abide in Me," He says, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." It is through the word that Christ abides in His followers. This is the same vital union that is represented by eating His flesh and drinking His blood. The words of Christ are spirit and life. Receiving them, you receive the life of the Vine. (The Desire of Ages, 676, 677)
Reflection: Only by this connection to Christ are we able to keep His command to love one another as He loves us. Can people see that we have a real connection with Christ? Do we produce fruit? Are we doing something that will lead others to Christ? Today would be a good day to be determined to be a fruit brearer.
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