What is the Nature of the Fruit We Produce?

Prayer-Soldier

What is the Nature of the Fruit We Produce?

Scripture:

And when he was come into Jerusalem, he essayed to join himself to the disciples; and they all were afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and told them how he had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken to him; and how in Damascus he had dealt confidently in the name of Jesus. And he was with them coming in and going out in Jerusalem, and dealing confidently in the name of the Lord. He spoke also to the Gentiles, and disputed with the Greeks; but they sought to kill him. Which when the brethren had known, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him away to Tarsus. Now the church had peace throughout all Judea, and Galilee, and Samaria; and was edified, walking in the fear of the Lord, and was filled with the consolation of the Holy Spirit.
(Acts 9:26-31)

My little children, let us not love in word, nor in tongue, but in deed, and in truth. In this we know that we are of the truth: and in his sight shall persuade our hearts. For if our heart reprehend us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. Dearly beloved, if our heart do not reprehend us, we have confidence towards God: And whatsoever we shall ask, we shall receive of him: because we keep his commandments, and do those things which are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ: and love one another, as he has given commandment unto us. And he that keeps his commandments, abides in him, and he in him. And in this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit which he has given us.
(1 John 3:18-24)

I am the true vine; and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me, that bears not fruit, he will take away: and every one that bears fruit, he will purge it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now you are clean by reason of the word, which I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abide in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine: you the branches: he that abides in me, and I in him, the same bears much fruit: for without me you can do nothing.

If any one abide not in me, he shall be cast forth as a branch, and shall wither, and they shall gather him up, and cast him into the fire, and he burns. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask whatever you will, and it shall be done unto you. In this is my Father glorified; that you bring forth very much fruit, and become my disciples.
( John 15:1-8 )

Reflection:

Blessed are those whose heart is touched by the Lord, for as they receive Him, they receive the blessings of love. Some wander the world, believing they are wise by their own estimation, but those who receive the Lord are guided to the blessings of true wisdom. As they share of the Lord, they bring light to those who surround them. As each heart is ignited with the blessings of God, they too, have the opportunity to grow within and share the blessings of love.

Those who see the light from a distance may be tempted to believe they cannot turn away from the darkness, that they will not be accepted in the light, but even those who once persecuted the Lord are invited to His table; a table of mercy and forgiveness; a table filled with the good fruits of His love. The love of God is extended to all the children of His creation, even those who once stood in the darkness and who once turned away from His commandments of love. This is the greatness and glory of the Lord, that those who are in the darkness are invited to His light where they may be transformed to become part of the light.

His light is not found only in words which are written and spoken, but in the actions of civility, compassion, caring, charity, mercy, and forgiveness. If we profess love only in words, what meaning is before us, what force do they have? To give meaning to our words, we must bring forth action; the action through which we may share blessings with one another, the less fortunate, as well as those who do not yet understand the light.

If we hear His Word, but do not turn it into action, what do we demonstrate? If we say we believe the Word, but do not act upon it, what is the nature of our belief? Let us, then, consider to what His Word guides us and what the One who created us asks of us.

As the children of His creation, we are all connected. From the vine of our Creator, we are but a single branch. It is the vine which yields nourishment to us from which we have the opportunity to grow and bear fruit. We extend from the vine from which we share, but if we do not allow ourselves to bear fruit, what comes from us is baron. If there is no fruit of blessing which comes from us, then, we present no value, we give no glory to the Vine.

What is the nature of the fruit we are called to bear? The nature is the sweet nectar of love. The fruit is what comes from civility, respect and humility. The fruit is what is yielded by the actions of caring, charity, and helping hands. The fruit is the blessings which fill each heart as the branches receive the nourishment of the Vine.

Let us, then, examine the fruit which we bear. Is it sweet, tasteless, or bitter? If ours is the fruit which is sweet, the fruit which brings joy at its taste, then, we give honor to the Vine which produced us. If it is tasteless or bitter, we still may have the chance to endeavor to bear the sweet fruit before the time comes where we may be pruned from the Vine and gathered for the fire.

If we do not know how to produce the sweet fruit, then, we must turn to the nourishment of the Vine, which is the Word which all the branches may share. Let us, then, not become the branch which is pruned and discarded as waste. Let us endeavor to bear the sweet fruit, the fruit which we may produce as we follow His commandments and share with one another through civility, compassion, caring, and charity.

Questions for further reflection:

In what ways have we been like Paul, who once persecuted our Lord?

In what ways may we turn our faith into action?

In what ways may we produce the good fruit from the nourishment of the Vine?

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier