Hope for a Harvest

You didn’t choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won’t spoil. As fruit bearers, whatever you ask the Father in relation to Me, He gives you.
But remember the root command: Love one another.
John 15:16-17 The Message


Oftentimes, in the Christian realm, we think bearing fruit means winning souls for the kingdom of God. It's not the only fruit mentioned in Scripture. If you've walked with the Lord for very long, you've heard about the fruits of the Holy Spirit in Galatians 5, But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! 

There are the fruits of righteousness - fruits born of the Jesus that has been planted inside of us. Holiness, good works. Yes, the Bible calls us to be fruitful in every good work. Ephesians 2:10 reads, For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Has what's been planted in you taken root? Are you seeing the fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control in your daily life? If you're not seeing the actual fruit, are you at least seeing the buds or blossoms? 

The Parable of the Fig Tree in Luke 13, assures us that God wants and expects us to bear fruit. It shows us that God is willing to go the extra mile for us if there is even hope that we will bear fruit for His glory. Hope for a harvest of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, holiness, and good works born out of our relationship with Christ.

Prayer:

Father,

          We pray Your Word from Philippians 1:9-11 The Message,  So this is my prayer: that our love will flourish and that we will not only love much but well. That we will learn to love appropriately. We need to use our head and test our feelings so that our love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush. Cause us to live a lover’s life, circumspect and exemplary, a life Jesus will be proud of: bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God. And we will hope for the harvest. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen