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When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father. John 15:8
Imagine having the craving for an apple, seeing an apple tree, and then, in your excitement going up to grab an apple only to find Brussel sprouts hanging from the branches!
What a huge disappointment! Of course, nothing like that could happen, right? After all Apple trees only produce apples. Orange trees only produce oranges and brussels sprouts? Well, that’s another story.
In John chapter 15 Jesus tells us that he is the vine, and we are the branches. The branches are worthless without the vine. The branch does not strive to produce fruit. The fruit comes naturally as a result of the work of the vine.
Jesus says that when we produce fruit, it brings glory to the father. Think of glory here as being joy. The father takes great joy and seeing us produce fruit. But the father is also the one that causes the fruit to form. Our job is just to show the fruit that he’s given us.
So don’t get tired. Don’t get weary. Don’t give up on the good works you do. Don’t give up on the love that you show. Others may not see, or acknowledge your efforts, but God does. It’s these things that gives the father great joy as he produces fruit in your life.
All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 1 Corinthians 9:25
A good athlete will train hard. He’ll sacrifice much to hopefully gain much. But training is no guarantee you’ll come in first.
There are many excellent athletes who train hard and still come in second or worse. Some may even train harder than the champion. Yet a good athlete keeps trying.
Training may not guarantee you’ll win, but failing to train guarantees you’ll lose. Two things keep us from being all God wants us to be. The first is failing to take that first step. Small steps lead to big rewards. The hardest part of a walk is getting out of your chair!
The second thing that keeps us from being all God wants us to be is quitting when we lose. Champions don’t allow initial losses to keep them from eventual victories.
Don’t allow doubt in your ability to win keep you from training. If you fail (come in second) don’t give up!
Jesus is your personal trainer and His goal is to help you cross the finish line.
He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. I John 2:6 (NKJV)
Jesus walked with purpose. When one walks with purpose, they neither jog or saunter. They are not wandering around, but have a purpose in mind, a destination to get to and a mission to accomplish. Those who walk with purpose are seldom distracted by their surroundings. Throughout the gospels, especially in the book of Mark, verbs define Jesus’ life.
Jesus also walked with passion. His purpose was fueled by the passion he had for his mission. And people were his mission. His passion for people empowered him to love them. His passion attracted those who lived a lifestyle completely opposite of what he stood for. His passion for others rose above politics, ethnicity, and gender.
Jesus walked with wisdom. He knew what he stood for. He knew what his father, Jehovah God, wanted from him. He did what needed to be done, while at the same time taking care of himself physically, spiritually and emotionally.
Abiding in Christ means that we walk with passion, purpose, and wisdom through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:11
Remember the “Where’s Waldo” pictures? It was quite a fad for a while. You would be looking for Waldo, in the midst of a bunch of other very similar looking people or backgrounds. Sometimes it is almost impossible to find Waldo.
When the apostle Paul was writing to the church in Corinth, he had a few things to talk to them about. While they were very strong in some areas. They were very weak in others.
One of the ways that they had become weak was in taking on the attitudes, and sometimes actions of the surrounding culture. In fact, sometimes the church in Corinth was actually worse in their morality than the culture around them!
Paul reminds them of two things. First of all, he reminds them of the life that they used to live. Lives marked by immorality, partying, and lies. Then he reminds them of how life should be different for those who follow Christ.
We are called to be different than the world. To stick out, to stand alone, to rise above the chaos. We are not called to be chameleons, camouflaged by current trends.
The Old Testament tells the story of three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were their names, who were commanded to bow down to an idol when the trumpets blew.
Everyone bowed down to the idol except these three guys. Imagine how they stuck out from the crowd. It may be hard to find Waldo in some pictures, but it was easy to find those three!
Yet they took a stand and God delivered them. The same is true for us. Don’t be a chameleon. Stand above the rest. Be excellent in your words, actions and attitudes. Be Jesus in skin. That way, when people say, ‘where is Jesus’, they will be able to look to you and know exactly where he is.
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice. Luke 23:34
“They don’t know what they are doing.”
I was working in an internet city children’s program while in Bible College. I loved it, loved the kids, and truly enjoyed working in the multicultural setting. I learned a lot!
One time we were playing a game and one young man, in his excitement, screamed the name of Jesus! Mind you, this was a church run program, and I grew up in a very conservative, white, rural area. I was, needless to say completely taken back!
I’m not sure why I reacted as calmly as I did. I’m guessing the Holy Spirit has a lot to do with it. I called the young man over and asked him what he said and he told me very innocently. I put y hands on his shoulder and asked him if he knows what it meant. He didn’t. When I told him that was swearing his jaw dropped. He had no idea. He was very apologetic. After letting him know it was okay but let’s not say it again, he rejoined the group and has a great time.
Both of us learned a valuable lesson that night. He resided using the name of Jesus that way want s as god choice. I learned that we sometimes assume those who go against God’s ways aren’t always rebellious. Sometimes they are ignorant.
How would it change things in society if we responded to people who hurt, reject or misunderstand us if we realized they are acting in ignorance?
Before we judge perhaps we should teach. Before we hate, let’s show love and grace.
