Fruit That Lasts

This is no shade against mothers, giving birth is a beautiful blessing. A blessing, I am still saddened I was unable to experience. My heart is often heavy with the emptiness of my womb. However, what the enemy meant for depression and despair, the Lord used  for discovery and revelation. God is still good, and fruitful soldiers are needed for his Kingdom. In fact it is our marching order. Jesus’ words mirrored the initial be fruitful and multiply blessing, but with new meaning, which is the multiplication of disciples. 

 “…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. 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. (John 15:14 – 16)

 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 26:19-20)

                                                                             Friends grafted as Branches 

Now the Lord refers to us as friends. Through faith, we have been grafted into his family tree like branches. Branches, grafted onto his mission, and reconnected through Jesus, to our original spiritual link. Jesus teaches that He is the vine, and we are the branches. By remaining connected to him through our faith, we will be able to live fruitful lives, bearing much for the Lord’s Kingdom. 

 “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. (John 15:5)

 As women, the Fruit of the Womb has been a weighty assignment that oftentimes overshadows all other productivity. Society aligns it with not only our purpose, but also our value. This assigned value is not a new concept, even women in biblical times, were looked down upon due to their infertility. The word infertility still sounds like a “bad word”  said with daggers and dooming one to a life less valuable. But God does not assign value the way man does. He looks not at the outward appearance, but judges the heart. Consider Elizabeth, how the Lord defined her, versus how she along with the world defined her. 

….his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. But they were childless because Elizabeth had not been able to conceive, and they were very old. (Luke 1:5-7)

 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. “The Lord has done this for me,” she said.”In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.” (Luke 1:24-25)

 A woman defined as righteous by God, saw herself, and probably was disgraced among people. What thoughts do you have after considering these verses? I had a whirlwind of thoughts, and a kaleidoscope of feelings. But perhaps I’ll discuss those another day under the meditations section of this blog. Today, let us consider these opposing views of righteousness and disgrace. If you have ever had this battle, or are still battling with it, begin the work to define yourself according to how God sees you. 

                                                                                   Fruitful Assignment

From this study, you know God has given you the golden fruit of forgiveness, allowing you to borrow his righteousness in order to live a fruitful life. A life filled with actions that support the expanding of an amazing Kingdom. We are all soldiers, assigned to good works, that we must not neglect simply because we did not get the assignment we wanted. In response to all that he has done, we should have a grateful heart that desires to stay connected to the vine and become fruitful branches. We must press on, use our salvation to multiply all that Jesus saved us for, while we still have time. Therefore regardless of where you find yourself in life, and regardless of your lot. We all have work to do, and a part to play in multiplying and producing fruit for the Kingdom. To my sisters described medically as “infertile”, take up your cross and through the Spirit bare down in spite of the sorrow, to become a fertile soldier, reproducing everlasting fruit. 

 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. (1 Corinthians 12:4-6)

 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually  ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. (Colossians 1:10)