Key Verse: "Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples."
- John 15:8 KJV
The bearing of much fruit not only brings glory to God,
but proves such rich fruit-bearers to be genuine disciples of the Lord
Jesus. Now, though there is no merit in their bearing fruit, they sometimes
get comfort from it, as proving an abiding union with Christ. "If you keep
my commandments, you shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's
commandments and abide in his love." There is no maintaining of holy
confidence in the soul but by walking in godly obedience; nor can there be
any true spiritual communion with God while the guilt of disobedience lies
hard and heavy on the conscience. To make straight paths for our feet; to
walk in the fear of God; to live to his glory, are not only sweet tests of
genuine discipleship, but faith, hope, and love cannot be maintained without
them.
And yet if we know anything of what gospel fruit is, and
what we are as poor, vile sinners, must we not too often put our mouth in
the dust? Instead of rejoicing in our fruitfulness, must we not often rather
lament our barrenness, and cry out, "My leanness, my leanness, woe unto me!"
Still, if we see and feel a deficiency in these points in ourselves and
others, and, comparing our hearts, lips, and lives with the word of truth,
must plead guilty, shall this utterly discourage us? No. This very
discouragement may prove of service to us. It is good, at times, to be
discouraged; because it makes us learn that "without Christ we can do
nothing," and that it is only by his grace that we can produce fruit to his
glory. It is, therefore, good to see and feel our barrenness and
unfruitfulness; for it is this very sight and sense of our own want of fruit
that leads us in earnest desires to the Lord Jesus Christ to work in us to
will and to do of his own good pleasure.
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