Grafted to the right Tree

         In order to bear fruit, you need to make sure you're grafted onto the right tree. Romans 11 says, "And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;" "Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in." This is talking about God's choosing to allow Gentiles to partake of His salvation, as well as the Jews. Israel was God's chosen nation, but when they rejected God's Son, Jesus and His followers went the other nations with the Gospel. "...the branches be broken off, and thou...wert grafted in among them...".

       Grafting is when a cut is made on a tree and a branch from another tree is bound tightly to that spot so the two will grow together and become as one. We can now receive nourishment from Christ and His Word. But we have to allow ourselves to be "grafted" into Christ by asking forgiveness for sin and believing that Christ is the only way to Heaven and that He died to take us there. Are you able to partake of the "root and fatness of the olive tree"? Have you received Christ alone?

Are You a "Fertilizer"?

       
       The Lord gave me this thought the other day. Have you ever thought of yourself as “fertilizer”? Think about the purpose of fertilizer. It aids and encourages plants to produce abundantly. While it does not replace our own responsibility to bear fruit, I think we should consider becoming fertilizer to other so that they can bear fruit as well – both at home and abroad. We should encourage our friends to be a witness for Christ and to join us in bearing fruit. Help keep each other accountable in always moving forward and bearing fruits – both for salvation and the fruits of the Spirit.
        How about missionaries? If you don’t feel the Lord has called you to bear fruit in the foreign field, would you consider being their “fertilizer”? Obviously, we can pray for them, and perhaps support them financially. But how about letting them know you’re praying? How about writing a note – or with technology advancing as it is – sending an email or a message on Facebook to a missionary or missionary’s wife to encourage them? Ask them for specific requests, things they are struggling with, become their friend. Let them know you’re on their side. “Fertilize” their efforts for the Lord. The mission field can be a lonely place, particularly in the beginning when you barely know how to communicate. I think I heard somewhere that over 50% of missionaries never return for a second term. Maybe if we "fertilized" them a little better, their roots would grow stronger with the Lord's help.

"For we are labourers together with God..." 1 Corinthians 3:9

God's Garden

 "Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.
They shall still bring forth fruit in old age;  they shall be fat and flourishing; To shew that
the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him."
Psalm 92:13-15

    We often hear that in order to be fruitful, we must read our Bibles and pray. And that is true! But have you considered that to bear fruit, we must be faithful to God's house? The verse above says that "those that be planted in the house of the LORD" - that's church - "shall flourish....they shall still bring forth fruit in old age". That sounds like remaining fruit to me!

    I hope that our friends, coworkers, neighbors know that we are Christians. But how can we bear fruit, how can we bear witness that "the LORD is upright" and say that "He is my Rock" when we skip church every time it's too cold or too hot or we want to watch something on TV? When they see us out shopping, playing golf, or watching the SuperBowl on Sunday, or we're playing ball on Wednesday night, what must they think? If we are truly passionate about a thing, nothing will keep us from fulfilling that goal. May we never miss an opportunity to be found in the house of the LORD for it is there that we can grow and flourish and "bear fruit".

Worthy or Withered? Questions for Thought

"And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away." Mt. 21:19

        Wow! I would hate to hear such words from the Lord! But think about it - is that how many of us live our lives? Only God can truly see our heart and our realm of influence. When He examines our branches, do He find limbs weighed down with rich, juicy fruit? Or only shiny green leaves that lack the true evidence of growth and prosperity? At what point will He grow weary of waiting for us to produce, and say to us as He did the fig tree, "Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever". If He can find no fruitful harvest, the final question would be - are you and I willing  to do whatever it takes to discover what fruit He desires, and follow the necessary steps to become what He would have us be?