Bearing fruit – BibleJournal.net

I grew up in Upstate New York in a small town called Corfu. From a young age, I remember having grapevines that allowed me to forge through many meals and stay outside even longer as I would just eat grapes from the vine or pick apples from a tree. There were seasons when you would eat from sun up to sun down and seasons where you would have to do some searching. I know I ate a lot healthier than too. (That’s another story) What a great feeling and comfort to know that we have Jesus as our living vine?

Today’s verse is John 15:5

I am the true vine, you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Branches cannot bear fruit independent of the vine. There would be many times I went out to pick grapes and they were just lying on the ground. My study bible reminds me of the importance of our lives and staying connected to God. Personally, I have had seasons of fruit-bearing. I have also had seasons where the fruit has been non-existent and I was just holding on for life. In any of these seasons or cases, the important part for us all is being connected. These days came through selfish worldly desires. Opportunities to bear fruit is praise to His glory and His kingdom. There is also praise to being simply connected to His vine. This connectedness lies in our faith. Do we believe in Jesus? His life, death, and resurrection? I imagine if you are taking the time to read this right now you are connected to His Vine. So I ask, what season are you in? Are you bearing much fruit? Maybe a bare branch? Either scenario is right where God has planned. Let’s just avoid any pruning that can happen when we don’t stay connected. Let’s pray and reflect on our source of life and the soil we are planted in.

A couple of additional verses that spoke to me on reflecting on Jesus as our vine were in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 where God reminds us about the meaning of life. How there is a season for everything. That in each season of life, whatever purpose God intends is the purpose we must live out. In addition, wherever you are today, stay connected. Psalm 1:3 says

That a person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither – whatever they do prospers.

Dear Father, You are our living Vine. Keep us close. Lord, help us in our day-to-day lives to not feel like we can detach and still stay connected. Help us to Seek you only and abandon our own selfish ways. Thank you for whatever season we are in. We love you! Amen

Make Every Effort

(5)For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, (6) and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, (7 )and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. (8) For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (9) For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. (10) Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. (11 )For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:5-11

Have you ever heard the idiom, ” Make every effort?” This phrase means: To try hard to accomplish something. Peter was making every effort to share with Christians the importance of growing in our faith. Peter knew his time on earth was limited (2 Peter 1:13-14) so he shares attributes to add to their faith and ours. I know it may seem like adding to a full plate already but the eternal reward is the entrance into a kingdom with our Lord. Our spiritual maturity will help us grow in moral discipline. It will also show in our grace and love to others.

Lets review these attributes Peter shares with us together and with prayer we can continue to grow. (Philippians 3:13)

Virtue – showing moral excellence, goodness. Doing what is right even when no one is looking. Having spiritual courage to stand up for and display (John 8:3-11)

Knowledge – reading through the bible and many other resources we are given His words/instructions on ways to live and attributes to apply to our life.

Self-control – said many times to me now echoed in our houses to our children. The ability to control ( discipline) our physical and cognitive impulses that don’t align with the goal of His kingdom. Titus 2:11

Steadfastness– Continuing in a course of action without regard to discouragement, opposition or previous failure. In our quick fix, instant gratification society it can be easy to take short cuts or give up. Persevere 1 Corinthians 1:8

Godliness– living a Godly life is not easy, we fall short and make mistakes. We can make every effort need to strive to “try” and be better. God like-ness – trying to be observant of all teachings and avoiding sin. ( Paul messages in new testament)

Brotherly Affection– A kindly and lenient attitude towards others. Romans 12:9-10

Love– strong affection. the highest form of love, charity; the love of God for man and of man for God. Agape embraces a universal, unconditional love that transcends, that serves regardless of circumstances.

So as we walk through our spiritual journey stay the course – Peter wants us to add this to our faith even though it will be hard because of the direction our society can take us. Philippians 1:6 Along the path check out the fruit are you bearing fruit or lacking? (v.8) Spiritual fruit will change your character, life, and outlook for future. Unfortunately, the same is true for bad fruit. Luke 8:4-15 How is your sight when you go through this journey are you seeing everything? Near & Far Sighted – As we grow we need to see both the here and now, but also in the distance seeing our eternity we will have in heaven. Looking back Jesus paid for our sins to one day live eternally with Him. This short life we have on earth prepares us for another place for eternity. Peter’s wise words helps us along this journey because there is no way we do any of this on our own no matter how hard we try. Eternal Kingdom – Making every effort to add to our faith with have an impact on this life and the life to come. Stay the course of this Christian life and grow not giving into complacency. Be intentional and diligent in “supplementing” our faith because the rich reward provided by our God.

I encourage you as you go through biblejournal.net daily to continue to lead Godly lives and grow in the knowledge of God our Lord.

Have a blessed Tuesday!

Today’s Readings: 1 Chronicles 26–27; 2 Peter 1; Micah 4; Luke 13