All tagged fruit

The Eternal Fruit of Prayer

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Fruit of Prayer

This morning we renew ourselves in studying the fruit of prayer. As we read today’s scripture verse in which Jesus reminds his disciples that they did not chose Him first, but that He chose, and ordained them, we are told that their purpose is to bear fruit for the kingdom of God and that in this endeavor they should pray and receive whatsoever they ask. When we pray during our daily prayers do we consider these words of Christ, or do we simply dwell on being given whatever it is we desire at the moment? Are we bringing forth fruit for the kingdom or simply wanting to partake of it?

God is Love, Good, and the Tree that gives us Life

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Love, or Fruit

As Christians we live to love. We love our God with all our heart, sole, mind, and strength; we love His Son Jesus, and we love our neighbors as ourselves, but in all of our opportunities to love we are to do so without requiring that we be loved first in exchange for giving our love. A Christian’s love is meant to be unconditional like the love that God modeled for us when He sent His Son to redeem us. We are to love with the humble obedient love that Jesus demonstrated during his life, death, and resurrection. If we can love others in this way then we will be judged as good, and our love will endure forevermore. Do we live our lives so that above all else we will find peace, joy, and comfort in eternal life, or do we seek to love abundantly, and to experience God’s divine love forevermore… even if it might cost us our lives?

Bearing Fruit in the Midst of our Suffering

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Pruning and Faith

When all around us appears to be prospering; when spring is turning the landscape green, and the birds are returning with their morning songs to brighten up the day, it is especially easy for us to ask “Why me Lord?” when trouble and suffering comes to us. Yet spring is when the grape farmer prunes his vines, and clears the undergrowth from around them. This is when last year’s growth is removed to make way for a bountiful new harvest, and when those that didn’t produce fruit are cut down, dug up, and burned. If you are facing trials in your life you should rejoice because you are being prepared for a bountiful season ahead.

Which Fruit do we bear in abundance, Spiritual, or Fleshly?

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Fruit of the Spirit

Are we bearing fruit in the spirit as we should? Are we listening to the instructions that Paul gave the Galatians when he wrote to them regarding how one should exhibit the Spirit in their lives? We are meant to leave our worldly behavior, and the desires of our flesh, behind, once we believe in Jess, and the Holy Spirit has come upon us, but when we look at ourselves, are we successful in this?

Without flowers there can be no fruit.

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Bearing Fruit

According to the gospel of Jesus, He is the vine and we are the branches of that vine, and being branches, we are to bear the fruit. This is a beautiful image and over the years much has been said, taught, and written about the attributes of the fruit, and what it means for us to bear that fruit. However, today let’s talk about what adorns us as branches before the fruit arrives, and the role we ultimately play in bring forth this fruit... let’s behold the flowers. Not all fruit is good to eat alone, and likewise, not all flowers are beautiful, or smell sweet, but we can tell what fruit we will eventually bear by the flowers that bloom on our stems.

Enduring the pain of God’s Pruning

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , God’s Pruning

To be a vine in our Father’s garden means that we fall under His watchful eye, and the constant attention of His pruning. Nothing is gained unless something is left behind. No vine branches out and bears more fruit without the careful pruning of the vinedresser. How conceited we are to think that the vine, and its branches, are God’s sole focus, no, it is the fruit, and the beautiful flowers that the gardener desires; Passion fruit, Grapes, and the sweet taste of love.