Fruit Bearing Love

Fruit Bearing Love

Philemon 1: ⁴ Brother Philemon, every time I pray, I mention you and give thanks to my God. ⁵ For I hear of your love for all of God's people and the faith you have in the Lord Jesus. ⁶ My prayer is that our fellowship with you as believers will bring about a deeper understanding of every blessing which we have in our life in union with Christ. ⁷ Your love, dear brother, has brought me great joy and much encouragement! You have cheered the hearts of all of God's people.

 

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Waking up with a horrified feeling, I remembered it was Valentines Day. The teacher told us to bring Valentines cards to pass out to the class. I did not have money or a means to get to the store if I did have any. I had a great idea that I would make the Valentines, but I forgot.

 

• I felt I did not live up to the standard.
• I felt I embarrassed.
• I did not know this was not the definition of love GOD desired, so I felt rotten.

 

Paul spoke highly of Philemon. He pointed out Philemon’s love and faith as being a great example. The basis of Philemon’s love was his faith in JESUS. His heart must have been overflowing, because he “cheered the hearts of all GOD’s people.”

 

My Observations

• The world may have a definition of what love looks like, BUT GOD has a different criteria.
• I should have room in my heart for people who love me and for those who are against me.
• GOD’s love bears fruit for HIM that cannot be denied, even by those who have fallen into a trap of defining a different love.

 

Redefining love has gotten me into trouble. I mean, when I thought love was catering to every worldly desire a person could dream up, I found myself never quite measuring up. BUT GOD had a remedy.

 

JESUS showed me the ultimate example of love for mankind. HE never fell for Satan’s tactics to draw HIM away from showing love to HIS creation. HE was gentle when other people slandered HIS name and surrounded HIM with lies, ultimately crucifying HIM because of their insecurities. I am so glad JESUS quietly took all of my punishment and gave me an example of true love to strive for.

 

Challenge

• What “love” is the writer speaking about?
• Have you ever felt bad because you did not give or receive love the way the world has defined it?
• Will you renew your mind on what love looks like and ask GOD for HIS type of love that bears fruit for HIM today?

Still Going

Still Going

Colossians 1: ⁶ The gospel keeps bringing blessings and is spreading throughout the world, just as it has among you ever since the day you first heard about the grace of God and came to know it as it really is. ⁷ You learned of God's grace from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is Christ's faithful worker on our behalf. ⁸ He has told us of the love that the Spirit has given you.

 

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Everything seemed to be going wrong on this particular trip. We got picked up extremely late, got lost and when we arrived, no one was there. It seemed like the opportunity had passed to share our message. But after a while, people started showing up. Little by little , the room was full. My doubt turned to hope.

 

• I was feeling discouraged.
• I asked GOD “Why did all these obstacles happen if YOU wanted me to do what I was doing?”
• I saw the condition of the world and it seemed hopeless to spread the Gospel.

 

Despite what people thought, “the Gospel keeps bringing blessings and is spreading throughout the world” Paul said. Though he and others faced hardships and may have sometimes felt like giving up, the Gospel was still going.

 

My Observations

• Sometimes I may be blinded by my circumstances, BUT GOD’s message of love is still going.
• Sometimes I may think no one is listening to GOD anymore, BUT GOD has plenty of listeners.
• Sometimes I may be troubled by my own sin, BUT GOD’s grace reigns supreme.

 

Grace is hard to imaging when calamity is present. I mean, when things seem to be going wrong all over the place, I may get discouraged and think GOD isn’t there or does not care. This is a lie I am happy GOD does not leave me in.

 

Instead, HE gave me the HOLY SPIRIT as my comforter, who lives inside me. My pain and sorrow turns into a testimony of GOD’s grace that is powerful enough to draw people to HIM. I am grateful GOD’s grace is still going, providing blessings and is more powerful that ever!

 

Challenge

• What blessings is the writer speaking of?
• Have you listened to the news and felt like abandoning GOD?
• Will you stand firm on your faith in CHRIST and be encouraged that GOD is still blessing you and others despite the news of the day?

Bear Letters

Bear Letters

2 Corinthians 3: Does this sound as if we were again boasting about ourselves? Could it be that, like some other people, we need letters of recommendation to you or from you? ² You yourselves are the letter we have, written on our hearts for everyone to know and read. ³ It is clear that Christ himself wrote this letter and sent it by us. It is written, not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, and not on stone tablets but on human hearts.

 

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“Are they still talking?” I said with frustration. My father and a friend’s father seemed to be record holders for talking after church. As we sat in the car, bored, the conversation droned on and on. That “guy” ended up being a mentor to me.

 

• He guided me to GOD outside of what my parents taught.
• He spoke gently about CHRIST so I could understand.
• He let me be my own person so I could carry JESUS in my own way.

 

Paul spoke highly of the people he wrote to. He saw their obvious fruit in how they carried the message of JESUS. Each person had become a living “recommendation letter” written by the SPIRIT of GOD. They were building a collection of letters.

 

My Observations

• My heart has to be open to spreading the word of GOD.
• My actions are not mine but are examples of many people who poured GOD into me.
• My faith has been built by many people who took time to show me how JESUS wants me to act.

 

Bearing letters is the same as bearing fruit but with a slight difference. I mean, fruit may be something I do, never expecting something in return, or not seeing the fruit tree grow in another person. Bearing letters is taking the time to grow people to grow others. In both instances, I am not the benefactor, but CHRIST is.

 

Bearing letters is important to GOD. HE wants the right amount of encouragement, mixed in with patience, mixed in with a tiny dose of correction. The right mix will have someone follow JESUS for themselves and desire to have others do the same. I am glad GOD put many people in my life to guide me to speak about HIM.

 

Challenge

• Can you hear the words of excitement from the writer?
• What words of encouragement have you heard that makes you excited about JESUS?
• Do you have any words of encouragement for someone so they can bear their own fruit for GOD today?

Blossomed

Blossomed

Romans 16: ²⁵ Let us give glory to God! He is able to make you stand firm in your faith, according to the Good News I preach about Jesus Christ and according to the revelation of the secret truth which was hidden for long ages in the past. ²⁶ Now, however, that truth has been brought out into the open through the writings of the prophets; and by the command of the eternal God it is made known to all nations, so that all may believe and obey.

 

²⁷ To the only God, who alone is all-wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever! Amen.

 

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Clearing weeds was a chore, but it was finished. After planting many seeds, I eagerly awaited the fruits of “my” labor. I watered the dirt where the seeds were buried regularly. I stared and stared. Nothing. After a few days, I stopped looking. Nothing was happening so I stopped watering. I moved on to other “fun” filled activities. Weeks later, the plants had grown wildly.

 

• There have been times when I gave up on a promise I was supposed to maintain.
• There have been times when I wanted to see something immediate and could not wait for the fruit.
• There have been times when I stopped trying and the fruit came up anyway.

 

Paul and Tertius complete the letter with praise to GOD. They acknowledge that it is GOD who is able to make people stand firm in faith. What was once planted by the prophets has grown into an immovable tree which is the truth of JESUS. The all-wise GOD has revealed HIS secret truth so all may believe and obey.

 

• GOD wants me to praise HIM even when I have abandoned my faith.
• GOD wants me to know HE is the one who is faithful and is able to make me stand firm in my faith.
• GOD wants me to make HIS message known to all nations so they may believe and obey.

 

Seeds are given to me to plant in someone else’s heart. Someone else comes along to water those seeds. BUT GOD is the only one who can grow the seed into HIS purpose. The seed is JESUS. The growth is the HOLY SPIRIT working inside me. The fruit grows to reach the FATHER. I am grateful GOD is in control of faith.

 

• Do you feel you do not have enough faith?
• Do you need GOD to intervene and you are not seeing what HE is doing?
• Will you praise GOD for sustaining you and your faith so HE will help you bear HIS fruit today?

Not Futile

Luke 23: ⁵⁰ Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, ⁵¹ who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God. ⁵² Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. ⁵³ Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. ⁵⁴ It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.

⁵⁵ The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. ⁵⁶ Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.

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Watching the last leaf fall off, I wondered if I needed to throw the plant away. I mean it seemed to be struggling and then it was gone. Somehow I felt I needed to keep the plant, so I replanted it. Weeks later, new leaves were growing.

• There are times when I think my efforts are futile.
• There are times when I try hard and don’t seem to get anywhere.
• There are times when it does not seem to be an end to obstacles.

A church leader names Joseph did not agree with the other church leaders when it came to killing JESUS. He sought the Kingdom of GOD and was deeply moved when JESUS was murdered. He had to do something, however little. He gave JESUS a burial not knowing what would happen.

• GOD says to me “Your efforts are not futile when you do them in MY name.”
• GOD says to me “MY word does not return void.”
• GOD says to me “Keep your faith for perseverance will make it whole.”

Persistence is what GOD likes. HE wants me to continue believing in HIS power especially when it seems like everything is falling apart. Even death could not stop JESUS, so the problems I face should not stop me from telling people about HIM. GOD wants me to keep going and know my efforts are not futile.

• Do you feel exhausted?
• Have you experienced a loss and are tired?
• Can you allow GOD to lift you up so you can continue to speak for HIM, knowing your efforts are blessed?