Remain in God and Bear Fruits - Part I
Hello IGNYTE!How many of you love gardening? **umm I don’t see many hands risen up**
Jesus taught an important value to His disciples through the parable of The Gardener and the vine. Let’s look at John 15 to explore more on the value of remaining/abiding in God.
John 15:1-12 (NIV) "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8 This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. 9 "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
God wants us to be fruitful. However, to be fruitful does not always mean going through a smooth and easy life most of the times. Every victory in life comes with a battle, no matter how big and small. But today we can rest assured that it is God’s promise for us is to bear fruits (= [abundant living], and so what do we do then??? The answer is in John 15 – REMAIN IN GOD.
Every plant that bears fruit would first need to go through the process of pruning or change in their life cycle. The flower petals have to drop and wither; the branches with weeds and algae need to be cut off so that healthy fruit can be bear.
Likewise, it is the same for our lives. Sometimes, God will allow us to face difficult situations; not to torment and make us suffer, but to give us the opportunity to make Godly decisions and grow from it. The result of pruning/molding is FRUITFULNESS.
Fruitfulness = Abundant Living = Godly Character and a Blessed Life.
So don’t shrink or run away when you have storms in your lives.
But know that such situations are inevitable, yet we don’t resign to it, but start to see such occurrence as God pruning our character, pruning our lives so that we can fulfill His purpose in our lives.
God bless!
Sis Gwen!
p.s. stay posted for "Part II" of this blog entry yar!
posted by IGNYTE, Trinity@PL @ 11:00 AM
<< Home