So I was thinking what does this mean?
First of all how do others know if we are in a relationship with someone? We bear "fruits" of that relationship for example in marraige we wear a wedding ring, or hang pictures of them, talk to others about them..we dont feel like our relationship is right if we don't talk to that person for the whole day. We protect that person when others talk against them, we think about them, we can't wait to be with them,we consult them for advice, we trust them......Think about the fruits of a relationship, how do others know you are 'together'?
I asked myself first of all, would others know I am in a relationship with Christ based on my life? What are the outward fruits of my love for Christ? Is it with the same intensity of my relationship with my husband? Less or more? I keep thinking about that how can you depend on someone you are not in a relationship with? its like I wouldnt call up a person from middle school and expect them to be there for me, there is no relationship there. So many times we want to call upon the Lord to be apart of our lives when we ourselves are not persuing Him in our lives on a regular basis. We find ourselves calling on Him when we need something and then getting frustrated when He doesnt hear us. Relationships have to do with communication, good and bad, we don't have a good relationship with our spouse if we are keeping things from them and not being honest. Then same goes with our relationship with Jesus. The context of the 'drawing near' verses speaks of confessing sin in our lives, and persuing things of Christ not of this world.
John 15 talks about the Vine and the branches, my favorite passage of the Bible..
New International Version (NIV)
John 15
The Vine and the Branches
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.
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oh this chapter is loaded with amazing ideas, but what are fruits of 'remaining' in christ?
Galations 22:19-22
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.
We pray for these things, "lord help me to find joy in my day" "lord help me to practice self control"..but these are "FRUITS" of the spirits work in our lives, in John is said "apart from me you can do nothing" "No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me"
Growing up i always thought that these fruits were things that we should strive for as Christians but as i have read more I realize that this is a direct reflection of Christ in our lives "fruits of the spirit" not "fruits of Bethany"
Luke 6:43-45
A Tree and Its Fruit
43 “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44 Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. 45 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.__
in other translations it is "out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks".
Having trouble with something in your life? Taming your tounge,anger, finding joy, self control ect? What is in your heart? what is pouring out of your heart and overflowing onto others?
Jesus says
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
He loves you, He doesnt want you to carry this on your own, Abide in Him, Rest in Him persue Christ in your life and allow Him to pour out in your life!
ABIDE: dwell, stay,continue,endure, keep on, last, persevere, persist, remain, survive,accept, acknowledge, be big about, bear, endure, hang in, hang in there, hang tough, live with, put up with, receive, sit tight, stand, stand for, suffer, take, tolerate, withstand ,anticipate, expect, remain, rest, wait
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