When I was a boy my parents planted peach trees. For years, they bore only leaves and a bit of shade. Finally, they bore fruit. Fruit trees are like that—they don’t bear much fruit during the first years. We don’t either.
But as we get older, God gives us the capacity to bear spiritual fruit: to point people to Jesus, to talk intelligently about Him and His love, forgiveness, and sacrifice. As Jesus prepared for the cross, He told His disciples He would be leaving: “I am going to prepare a place for you” John 14:2.
But why not take the disciples with Him? Why not take us? It hurts to live in this world—we suffer emotional and physical pains all our lives. If our sins have been forgiven, why doesn’t He just put us on the elevator and whisk us up to heaven now? Why does He leave us here where He knows—we all know—that we are going to continue to struggle and suffer for years?
We are here to bear fruit.
“My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be My disciples…. You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you so that you should go out and produce fruit—fruit that would be eternal” John 15:8,16.
Have you borne fruit? Can you point to someone whose life is better because of you?
Jesus CHOSE YOU. Think about that.
HE.
CHOSE.
YOU.
And He chose you because He knows you can/will bear fruit. How exciting is that? Jesus chose us to bear fruit for Him—to make a difference. To bless people with joy, hope, comfort, and grace, and to TALK to them about Jesus and His amazing love that fixes everything.
All of us work hard when faced with the right challenges. But let’s commit ourselves to serving God with all our energy:
We were made to work hard FOR HIS KINGDOM. IT IS THE ONLY REASON WE ARE HERE.
How can you bear fruit today?
Read John 15.
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