February 10th 2021
Fruitful and Faithful (I)
And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fist the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living that move the upon the earth. Genesis 1:27 (KJV)
Bible Reading: Matthew 21:18-22
Fruit has many attributes. One of such features is that fruit takes time to grow. Fruit does not grow overnight. It is a process from weeding the land to planting a seed and constantly cultivating to ensure the planted seed germinates and grow to the point of producing fruits. To produce fruits means growing up. Fruit is not for the faint hearted, it is for plants/trees that have developed fibres, tissues, stem, and all that’s needed to produce fruit. The same is for us as Christians.
In our Bible reading, Jesus Christ was going into the city of Bethany and he was hungry. He saw a fig tree that was green, healthy and looked promising on the outside. With the way the fig tree was described, one would expect fruits on it. However, Jesus moved closer and found no fruit on the fig tree. Jesus cursed the tree and instantly, the fig tree withered away. Two points I would like to point out in this story: 1) the tree was deceptive. From the outside the tree looked good and seemed as if it was fruitful but upon a closer examination, the fig tree did not live up to its expectation. This caused the tree its life. Deception can be costly. As a child of God, does your life look godly on the outside but if we draw closer, it is not giving glory to God? Does your life has what Apostle Paul calls ‘a form of godliness but denying the power therein’? (2 Timothy 3:5). Secondly, fruitlessness attracts judgement. Yesterday, we mention that God’s instruction to be fruitful and multiple and replenish the earth and subdue it is a command, a divine mandate not a suggestion (Genesis 1:27-28). God wants your life to produce the fruit of the spirit. God desires that your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify Him (Matthew 5:14). Dear friends, there is faithfulness in fruitfulness and God wants you to be fruitful. As you learn of God everyday and allow His word to grow in you, you will start growing and your life will never remain again.
Daily Confession: I choose to be fruitful every aspect of my life in Jesus name, amen.
Intercessory prayer: Pray for God’s blessings upon the city you live in.
Hymn: Ancient words ever true
Changing me, and changing you.
We have come with open hearts
Oh let the ancient words impart.