Do I want the results Christian’s value or the fruit of what God is choosing to produce through me?
The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing.
John 6v63
Sometimes I think my efforts accomplish nothing. I desire for all to receive eternal life but I need to accept the fruitfulness God chose me for.
Then he said, “That is why I said that people can’t come to me unless the Father gives them to me.”
John 6v65
There were people following Jesus whom the Father had not given. Yet, Jesus’ words were –
And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
John 6v63
The message was anointed but the Father was not putting his finger on them at that time. Until the Spirit worked, they would not believe.
But some of you do not believe me.”
John 6v64
The phase of Jesus’ ministry to thousands was closing. It was time for people to jump in or out. Jesus gave a challenging message that shook those who were following out of human effort.
At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him.
John 6v66
Sadly Judas did not leave with them.
Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?” Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life.
John 6v67-68
Those who had received Jesus’ words of Spirit and Life remained.
If I focus on the results my peers value, I can hinder the development of the fruitfulness God chose me for.
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Photo by Amanda Hortiz on Unsplash
2 thoughts on “God’s Fruit”
“Do I want the results Christian’s value or …” and “If I focus on the results my peers value, I can hinder the development of the fruitfulness God chose me for“
I suggest that rather than reject other Christian’s values, we need to be ready to humbly respond to insights that other Christians might share with us – the “results” that they value may be spiritually valuable for us to heed, and constructive for our walk with the Lord.
Paul writes to Timothy, exhorting him to disciple other Christians to “correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction” (2 Timothy 4:2).
We don’t only grow in maturity by direct guidance by the Holy Spirit, but also by allowing God to speak “correction, rebuke and encouragement” into our hearts through friends and leaders who we trust. We should listen, and weigh, input from other Christians – not of course if they promote the world’s values but for spiritual values that other Christians have learned and which have validity if we apply them to ourselves.
Hi Ian, Thanks for taking the time to comment. Yes, humility is always a good stance to take towards what people are saying and to hear their messages. It can be that the Lord speaks through them in many different ways. I think what I am getting at here is the sense of where is our focus. Are we focused on the results or are we focused on Jesus. If a person focuses on Jesus, then Jesus can use these comments of others in a helpful way. If one is focused on what people label success, then one can be caught in a trap.