November 12, 2011 (good fruit and a lot of it?)

good fruit and a lot of it?

Is it possible to produce fruit
but not “good” fruit,
and not much of it?

We all know the answer to that...
but my question for us is...
are “we” producing good,
abundant fruit?

If we are still trying to live two lives...
a life in Christ “and” a sinful life...
giving part to God and keeping a part
for ourselves...
are we living the “full” life
that God wants for us?

Is our fruit good and abundant?

“'I am the vine; you are the branches.
If a man remains in me and I in him,
he will bear much fruit;
apart from me you can do nothing.
If anyone does not remain in me,
he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers;
such branches are picked up,
thrown into the fire and burned.
If you remain in me and my words remain in you,
ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.
This is to my Father’s glory,
that you bear much fruit,
showing yourselves to be my disciples.'”
- John 15:4-8 NIV

Did you notice the word “much”?
It appears twice above.

“...every good tree bears good fruit,
but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
A good tree cannot bear bad fruit,
and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.
Every tree that does not bear good fruit
is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
- Matthew 7:17-19 NIV

“Make a tree good and its fruit will be good,
or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad,
for a tree is recognized by its fruit.”
- Matthew 12:33 NIV

Note the emphasis on “good” fruit.
Do you, like me, question your fruit production...
are you allowing the Lord “full reign”
... to prune the branch?

Do not live a double life... give your all to Jesus.