Some Thoughts about Spiritual Fruitfulness
True spiritual fruitfulness can only be that of the Spirit as we read in Galatians 5:22-23a: "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control."
This fruit can be grown only on the true Vine, Christ: "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.... Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me, you can do nothing" (John 15:1-2, 4-5).
How is this fruit manifested as it is grown on this Vine and pruned by this Vinedresser?
Let's go back to Galatians 5 and pick up what Paul also wrote: "Against such things [referring to the fruit of the Spirit] there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another (vv. 23b-26).
Our walk--our daily life in Christ--reflects this daily crucifixion--humility instead of boastfulness, compassion instead of challenging, generosity instead of envying--"love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control."
This fruit can be grown only on the true Vine, Christ: "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.... Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me, you can do nothing" (John 15:1-2, 4-5).
How is this fruit manifested as it is grown on this Vine and pruned by this Vinedresser?
Let's go back to Galatians 5 and pick up what Paul also wrote: "Against such things [referring to the fruit of the Spirit] there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another (vv. 23b-26).
Our walk--our daily life in Christ--reflects this daily crucifixion--humility instead of boastfulness, compassion instead of challenging, generosity instead of envying--"love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control."
posted by Ebeth | 7:41 AM
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