fatih – Fearless Living

The words of today’s promise echoes in my mind as I am reminded that without Christ I can do nothing of eternal value.

John 15:4 “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.”

Promise: God promises that a life lived through faith in Jesus will produce eternal fruit.

Have you ever wondered if you are successful in life? Who determines what is considered success? You, others or God? In this verse, Jesus tells us that believing in Him and walking with Him day by day will produce fruit in our lives. Godly fruit is described in Galatians 5:22-23 and is produced by His Holy Spirit living within us. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” None of those things are material goods but involve our character and are intangible. Having a godly character is what God wants for us. By remaining faithful, Jesus promises that we will be transformed into one who exhibits a Spirit-filled life with abiding fruit that reflects Him within us. What greater success could we ever achieve than to be like Jesus?

What we know from this verse: God is always faithful and omnipresent, having God in my life will produce godly fruit, there is no fruitfulness in one’s life apart from God.

Lenten Reflections: What fruit am I seeing in my life? What fruit do I want God to cultivate and produce in my life?

This promise has a bit of a command attached to it. Jesus tells us to abide in Him and to let Him abide in us. He promises to abide in us but we need to be open to His Holy Spirit’s work in our lives. Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can know the abiding presence God in my life through His Spirit and in Him I will produce eternal fruit, guaranteed.

Linda

Related Verses: Isaiah 58:11, John 15:1-2, 16, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, 1 John 4:13-18

Psalm 37 verses 23-24 hold precious promises confirmed through Christ and His indwelling Holy Spirit.

The Lord directs the steps of the godly.
He delights in every detail of their lives.
²⁴Though they stumble, they will never fall,
for the Lord holds them by the hand.

God promises to direct our steps, delight in our lives and uphold us as He holds our hand.

Jesus is seated in heaven at the right hand of God, a place of honor and preeminence. Romans 8:34 “Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” Jesus is looking out for us. We may slip or be overwhelmed but we can rise as our hope is in the Lord and He is always victorious. Job 42:2 “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted.” Satan may be temporarily victorious but Christ has overcome his power. John 10:28-29 “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. ²⁹My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.” We belong to God eternally and He wins!

Besides being safe this promise tells us that God delights in a life lived in a godly way striving to glorify Him. Scripture tells us what delights God in many places, here are just a few. Psalm 1:2 “but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.” Studying, revering His Word pleases God. Psalm 147:11 “the Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.” Living in fear, reverence of the Lord and depending upon His unfailing love pleases Him. Micah 6:8 “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” When we live acting justly, showing love and mercy towards other leaning upon Him, it pleases God. Jesus also told us in Matthew 22:37-39 “Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ ³⁸This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Loving God fully, obeying his commands and loving others pleases God.

Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, we can live lives pleasing to God through the power of His indwelling Holy Spirit. Thank you Jesus!

Linda