Be Fruitful
Ephesians 2:10 in the Amplified Bible says, “For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].” This scripture isn’t telling us that God is some sort of puppet master pulling strings in Heaven. Instead, the truth is that God planned only good things for mankind.
Originally, when man was formed out of the dust of the ground and God breathed life into him, (Genesis 2:7) His intention was for mankind to have dominion, to live with authority and abundance, and to love and be loved. God even cared about the scenery! He made for mankind every tree that was pleasant for sight! (Genesis 2:9)
Look back to Genesis 1:28, “Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” God told mankind to be fruitful. This means to bear fruit. If you’ve ever planted a fruit tree in your yard or a tomato plant, you know that its success is determined by whether or not it bears fruit. You also probably wouldn’t have planted it in the first place unless you intended it to bear fruit. The Lord planted us, mankind, so to speak, in order for us to bear fruit. Look at John 15:8, “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” It’s important that we live fruitfully.
Something else we need to recognize as Christians is the fact that we have the freedom to determine whether or not we bear much fruit. Galatians 5:13, “For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh…” You may be reading this thinking, “I’m no apple tree. What’s the fruit she’s talking about?” Galatians 5:22 explains this very well, “…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, (patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…” God intended this to be a picture of His born-again creation. Every time we display love, God’s love, not the world’s love, we’ve grown another apple. Every time we choose to live in joy and peace though the circumstances tell us we should worry and fret, we grow another apple. Every time we obtain His promises by faith and patience, we grow another apple. Every time we’re faithful to come to church, to read the Word, to sing His praises, we grow another apple. Every time we put down the lusts of the flesh, those things that make us comfortable, and follow His way above all else, we grow another apple.
In Matthew 7:16-17, Jesus says, “You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.” We choose the fruit we want to bear. Let’s bear the good, healthy, abundant fruit of the Spirit. Amen!?
Be Blessed,
Pastor Renée
