It is not a prerequisite for a child of God to bear fruit in order to become a child of God, but it is indeed a result.

To bear fruit is not a prerequisite to becoming a child of God, but it is indeed a result. In other words, if I’m a child of God, I’m so overwhelmed by gratitude for everything that He has done for me that I cannot do anything but bear fruit.

However, gratitude is not the only driving force that will make us do good. When we understand God’s will for our lives and do it, it has a big impact on what our fruit will look like. ¹⁰We pray that you’ll live well for the Master, making him proud of you as you work hard in his orchard. As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work.

The process looks like this:

Step 1 – The Holy Spirit helps us to understand exactly what God’s will for our lives is. At each crossroad in life the Holy Spirit helps us to choose within God’s will (verse 9).

Step 2 – We no longer have doubts about God’s will for our lives and consequently make our choices within the will of God. Then we live our everyday life within God’s will.

Step 3 – Our way of living has an impact on God. God’s Name is glorified and in a way God becomes visible in the world.

Step 4 – We bear more and more fruit.

Step 5 – The net effect is that we increasingly have a better understanding of God’s will for our lives.

It is therefore a process where we create more and more space for the Holy Spirit every day, so that we can understand God’s will more and more. When we then start choosing to live within God’s will, his Name is glorified AND our fruit in the world look much better. Eventually, we learn more and more what God’s will is.

I think that after the repetition of this message we should all understand it. But when I look at myself, I see that step 4 is not always that visible in the world around me. Even in my own life very little fruit can be seen. Why is that?

The reason may be found in two things: I’m not giving the Holy Spirit enough space in my life OR I know God’s will, but my choices aren’t that fresh.

I may be putting this rather simply, but I believe the Holy Spirit has put two bells inside us – a bell for right and a bell for wrong. When we have to make a choice, the bells start going off inside us to help us, but for whatever reason we don’t listen and choose to do our own thing. We’re too hasty, we’re angry, we’re deafened by the sounds of the world, our ego takes the lead, and many others.

Take a look at your recent fruit. Maybe, like me, you will realise that we have to be quieter, calmer, that we have to slow down and talk to the Holy Spirit about the choices we make.

Do it. It will be better for you. And the people you come into contact with every day will also be grateful and glorify God.

Scripture

Colossians 1:9-11

Reflection

What does your fruit look like?

What do your choices look like?

What does your space for the Holy Spirit look like?

Prayer

Our Father, I long with my whole heart to serve You. I want to live exactly the way that You want me to. In the smallest choice too. I want to bear fruit. I want to glorify your Name. I am going to. Amen.