LIGHT FOR FRUITFUL LIVING (2)

“But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed BEARS FRUIT and produces” – Matthew 13:23a

The Word of God sheds LIGHT for FRUITFUL LIVING, but always with a Call for Obedience: “But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed BEARS FRUIT and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty” (Mt.13:23). The Word of God, like seed, is designed to bear fruit. When it is sown, it does not return void (Isa.55:10-11). However, the condition of the heart – the soil – has a lot to do with the fruitfulness of the Word in our lives. The ground upon which the good seed falls represent human hearts, which are variedly disposed. Like soil, the heart is capable of improvement – bearing good fruit – through the Power of the Holy Spirit and our personal responsibility, the latter making the difference between thirty-, sixty- and hundred-fold.

God is glorified by Fruitful Living. True disciples bear fruits for His Glory: “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear MUCH FRUIT; so you will be My disciples” (Jh.15:8). However, fuitfulness is a function of Obedience to God’s Word: “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its FRUIT in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper” (Psa.1: 2-3). Here are qualities to nurture for Fruitful Living:

We must keep or guard our heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life (Pro.4:23). We must sustain a tender heart toward the Lord, and avoid heart poisons, defiling influences and toxic thoughts that harden the heart toward the Truth of the Word. Let’s get the stones and thorns out of the way so that the Word can bear much fruits in our lives!

We must deal honestly and truthfully with the Lord when He releases revelation out of His Word: Do what He says – and take the reproofs.

We must ensure that sufficient Word is sown in our heart. The more we attend to reading, exhortation and doctrine, the more of the Word there is in us to bear fruit (1 Tim.4:13).

We must keep like precious seed, the Word that is sown in our hearts (Lk.8:15). We may not know when the Lord would call upon it to bear fruit in our life.

We must prayerfully endeavour to understand the Word that is sown in our heart (Pro.22: 17-21). This will keep the planting of false doctrine and deception away. We must study to show ourselves approved to God, rightly dividing the Word of Truth (2 Tim.2:15).

We must be patient for the Word to bear fruit. While recognizing that God is in charge of the quantity of fruit production, we must passionately pursue the hundred-fold realms!