Christian Writers Circle

by Judy Hitson

John 15: 8 NIV This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Imagine Jesus with you, speaking the words of this verse to you personally ………………………. What does it mean for you to bear much fruit, showing you are Jesus’ disciple to Father’s glory?

Each time I read John 15 and think about bearing fruit, I assume the fruit is people I lead to Christ. However, preparing to write this devotional, the fruit of the Spirit kept coming to mind. One evening while in bed thinking about this, I was compelled to rise up and write down what I heard, “Be fruitful through abiding in Christ. Taste and see the LORD is good, Ps. 34: 8. Think about the taste of the  fruit of the Spirit, Gal. 5: 22-23.”

If you and I were sitting together as followers of Jesus, we could share from our hearts what He is saying to each of us. Let’s draw close in His presence to abide in Him, John 15: 4. To bear much fruit for God’s glory as disciples of Jesus Christ, we who are maturing in Christ, know this is something only God can do through us, by His Spirit who gives life. No one can accomplish it by themselves. Jesus says we can do nothing apart from Him, John 15: 5b.

As we mature in Christ, it is vital to know our hearts from His perspective to have clean hands and a pure heart, Ps. 24: 3-4. The following prayer is helpful to that end: Search me,
O God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any hurtful, offensive or wicked way in me and lead me in the everlasting way, Psalm 139: 23-24.

There are lists in Scripture I learned to consider before the Lord for self examination. Mentors and Bible teachers taught me the importance of being holy as God is holy, to confess sin and walk in true repentance for the Holy Spirit to transform my life. I share from Galatians 5.

Gal. 5: 19-21 NASB Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

We see a stark contrast as we consider the fruit of the Spirit. It helps us better understand the fruit Jesus is thinking about in John 15: 8 that will create a winsome spirit to win souls for the kingdom of God.

Gal. 5: 22-23 NASAB 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self control; against such things there is no law.

As we recall the fruit of the flesh and Spirit in Gal. 5 and open ourselves to Holy Spirit conviction, He will lead us to confession and cleansing, I John 1: 9. Then we can surrender, yield, submit to and trust the Lord to change us that we bear good fruit by His Spirit.

Prayer: Come Holy Spirit with life for us to be fruitful and multiply to the glory of God through Jesus Christ. Amen.