John 15:8, “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.”
In understanding what the Word has to say to us I am overwhelmed and even sometimes stalled as a person. It is much like a child in a toy store; I just don’t know where to begin. What we gain in Christ is so far beyond comprehension and value; it is just hard to see the trees for the forest. Unlike my illustration, we are not meant to pick and choose what we want over all else. I am gifted by God to see all of my opportunities and take advantage of them all. God has chosen what He wants for us and we are truly blessed beyond our worth, but not beyond our ability to capitalize on those same blessings to the Glory of God. In John 14 at the end Jesus calls His disciples to leave with Him, and what is taught in chapter 15 is a conversation on the way. In 15 Jesus teaches about Himself as a vine – the true Vine. He indicates that life stems from Him. Because we are attached to the true Vine, we are exceptional in our being. Every life attached to the vine is valuable because we touch the “hem of Jesus’ existence.”
Satan would like for you to believe that someone, maybe everyone else, in the body of Christ, is more important than you. The truth is that we are all important according to the illustrations and standards of our Lord. Some believe that past sins exempt them from being fruitful right now. There are a few responses to that. 1) If that were true then I wouldn’t be writing this article. I have a past as all of us do. (Romans 3:23) 2) If there is something in our lives that we need to repent of, then do it now. () Take away the barriers that separate us from God and accept His grace and love through the purifying blood of Jesus. If we are not glorifying God, it is never His fault.
If one is not a Christian and they desire to be one the Biblical process is very straight forward. 1) Open your life to the hearing of the Word of God. Allow yourself to become obedient to the lifegiving wisdom of the Holy Word of God. (Luke 11:28; Jeremiah 22:29; Romans 10:17) 2) Faithfully believe what is written in the Word. A belief that leads to action on our part is the kind of faith that lives in the New Testament. (1 Corinthians 4:2) 3) Repent of those things that separate you from the throne-room of God.
Turn away from sin and toward God. (Acts 3:19) 4) Confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, acknowledging His Authority in our lives. (1 John 1:9) 5) Be baptized for the forgiveness of those same sins. (Acts 2:38; Romans 6:1-11; Mark 16:15-16) 6) Live faithfully and lovingly in this world. (Revelation 2:10)
Be a real follower and not this politically correct version of what the world wants Christians to be. Be fruitful. Be His!