Nougat 6

We continue to reflect on fruitfulness in today’s Holy Nougat

“Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.” ‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply… [and] Fill the earth ….”” ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭1‬:‭28a‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Our mandate for fruitfulness is not only from Jesus. It’s is a part of our nature. From the beginning, humanity was created for fruitfulness – in every aspect of life! Now John 1:1 assures us that Jesus was there at the beginning; so He, of all people, KNOWS for a Fact that we are created for productivity We each have our unique gift. And that’s a fact. Let no one tell us otherwise.

So going back to yesterday’s list, let’s see what fruit first needs to blossom within, and then we can also bring forth fruit for others:

Do we need to experience any of the following in our lives?

Love

Joy

Peace

Long Suffering

Gentleness

Goodness

Faith

Meekness (ie Humility)

Temperance (ie self control)

For if we have not experienced the Fruit, we might not even realize it’s worth.

Going back to unique gifts we each have; remember it’s also a gift to bless the wider community. In Genesis 2; Adam got the opportunity to name the animals – that was the first gift we encountered him manifesting. He was able to speak life to each creature’s purpose and potential. I believe we have that gift too. Are we speaking life and seeing it bear fruit?

If our task is re-production, our goal is to discern what the product is. The answer to that question is in verse 26 of Genesis 1, and the first sentence in John 15:4. We are reproducing God’s likeness in others, not ourselves. Now hold a minute – this is not heresy! I’m not calling any of us gods. Rather, I am reminding us that the traits we need to have manifested in the earth are those of God. And that’s where abiding comes in.

When we remain (abide) in God, our natural inclinations ought to run more and more to factory default: God’s purpose and will. And that’s how fruitfulness becomes natural. It’s who we are and what we do. Lord God, please restore us to factory default.

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May all we seek be found in Christ