Bear fruit: love

"This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples" John 15:8


As Christians, we're called to live like Christ, to love others, to bear fruit... but we don't... at least not always. A girl in one of my classes today very boldy proclaimed she is not a Christian (I'm not sure why she's paying so much money to come to a Christian school), and criticized the students for not trying to convert her. She said many students know she's not a Christian, but hardly anyone has shared the Gospel with her! To her, Christians are apathetic "do-gooders" who focus too much on personally growing closer to Christ and not enough about reaching out to others. This was a bit offensive at first, and class' first response (along with mine) was to defend ourselves, giving examples of how we do participate in social justice and local outreach. However, I had to stop and ask myself if I really do care about seeing other meet Jesus. If so, why am I afraid to "rock the boat" and share my faith???


Yes, I'm afraid of sounding foolish, looking silly, losing friends... but I'm mostly afraid of leaving a bad taste of Christianity in someone's mouth or falsely representing the Gospel. Um, excuse me, Kristina, but can't God work past that? Do you really think he can only use perfectly articulate and spiritually mature people? Think again!


So, we're clearly called to "bear fruit," but what does that exactly look like? It doesn't necessarily mean "convert X number of people" (think of Jesus' words in John 4:37, "one sows and another reaps"), but perhaps it simply means that we should love others. Okay, well, I'm pretty sure he means this considering he says, "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you" in verse 12 of chapter 15 =). I'm not exactly sure how this love translates into visible fruit, but then again, we don't always get to see the fruits of our labor....


I'm encouraged, though, that love is part of the Fruit of the SPIRIT! So.... it can't be up to us to force love out of us! Let's just cling to Christ, claim the power of His Spirit, and humbly move forward in Him. God puts us in situations (i.e. going to school with people who don't know Him!) where we need only to open our eyes and see people as God sees them. With the Holy Spirit living in us, we can't help but bear fruit: love.

Be Dependent on God.

"Chances are if you place yourself in the River, you'll consistently get wet"- LM


Such a seemingly obvious statement, yet, we sometimes live counter to this. This week at the River, LM challenged us to ask ourselves if we're living out what it means to be dependent on God. Jeremiah 17:7-8, John 15, and (I forgot the other passage) present analogies of trees/vines to describe what it means live out dependency on Christ. If we're rooted in Him, or if we "remain in Him" (John 15), we will be fully equipped to face the stress of school, family, finances, relationships, work....


So how do we do this? How do we practically live out dependency? How do we put ourselves in a place to get wet?


TALK. We talk to our friends all the time! Why is this different with God? Do we forget he knows our innermost being, our every excitement, concern, doubt, and fear? Just talk to him- at all times, in all places, about all things. Well, duh! But I've been challenged to ask myself if I really live life talking to God constantly. As 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. I don't talk because I'm afraid of admitting I need help, I'm embarrassed for what I've done, or I'm consumed with the distractions around me. God can handle all of that, and He wants me to talk with Him.

LISTEN. If we don't set aside time to listen, how will grow? How many friendships do you have where you feel like the other person never listens to you? Are you really friends then? Why not listen to God's voice- we'll hear it, as Jesus said, "my sheep hear my voice" (John 10:27). I know God has a plan for me, but for some reason I still try and do it all on my own! 
Navel gazing.... one of my teachers in high school referred to the negative, self-centered, all-consuming focus on difficulties you're facing right at this moment as navel gazing. "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" (2 Cor. 4:18). If we would only get our eyes off of ourselves for two seconds and fixed back on Christ, our perspective would change. The situation might not, but we will be able to move forward with our eyes fixed on Jesus, ready to hear his voice. 

GO. God doesn't call us to a life of stagnant complacency. He calls us into action saying, “whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." (Luke 9:23) Denying ourselves, not living for ourselves; taking up our cross, not expecting life to be easy; and following him, not trying to find the way on our own. This verse is a call to move forward humbly, depending on God completely for sustenance, comfort, and direction. We know we can trust Him, so why don't we just go with him? He'll lead us into the river, into deep relationship with Him.


Today, I want to sit at Jesus' feet talking to Him and listening to his voice. Then I want to go wherever he leads me- living fully dependent on Him. Let's go.