fruit leads to growth

The usual progression is for the plant to grow to maturity and then bear fruit.  Of course, that is also what is meant to happen in the life of each believer in the Lord Jesus.  Faith conceives new life and the Word and the Light and the Spirit foster growth so that ultimately the child of Godreaches an adulthood that is marked by fruit, showing the evidence of the living God and attracting others by the flower of His beauty...doing good works and sharing the good news of salvation that is available to all.  I was struck by another truth this morning as I read the following passage from Colossians, chapter 1:¹⁰ that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 

I believe that as we mature and bear fruit for the Lord through our attitudes and actions that reflect His love and extend His hands we "increase in the knowledge of God".  You could say that we grow to bear fruit and we bear fruit so that we might grow.  Unlike the grapevine or orange tree that has a simple cycle of maturation, we can go on and on through new stages of growth with new and varied fruit to produce.  One thing seems sure....as we remain in His good soil and as we yield fruit for Him we will continue to grow and to produce and our roots drive ever deeper into His good ground.

 

blessings (with prayers for Japan and all affected by the tsunami today),

Rob Smith