Christian growth seems so complicated at times, doesn’t it?
I need to pray, and I need to make sure that my prayers aren’t too self-centered, and I need to be praying for the spread of God’s kingdom, and to be sure that I’m not distracted by my iPhone. I need to read God’s word. And meditate on it. And memorize it. I need to evangelize, fast, serve, reach out, love my wife, serve my daughters, and give money to God’s work.
Man, this stuff can be so confusing! With limited time and limited energy, what the heck am I supposed to do? Sometimes I get anxious when I think about all that I should be doing. I want to be a fruitful Christian but I worry that I’m missing something. How can I be sure that I’m doing the right stuff at the right time?
I find Jesus’ words in John 15:5 very helpful:
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
Isn’t that refreshingly simple? If I want to bear much fruit I need to abide in Jesus. That’s it.
To abide with Jesus is to be with him. To spend time with him. To be near to him.
It’s important to think through the various spiritual disciplines we pursue. But let’s not get overly worked up or worried about producing fruit for the Lord. If we abide with Jesus, we will produce fruit. Actually, let me correct that. If we abide with Jesus, He will produce fruit.
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So grateful producing fruit is not up to me but is a result of a close fellowship with Him. Glad He made it simple!
This post reminded of a quote I read in Elisabeth Elliot's book "Secure in the Everlasting Arms."
"Go in all simplicity; do not be anxious to win a quiet mind, and it will be all the quieter. Do not examine so closely into the progress of your soul. Do not crave so much to be perfect, but let your spiritual life be formed by your duties, and by the actions which are called for by circumstances. Do not take overmuch thought for tomorrow. God, who has led you safely on so far, will lead you on to the end. Be altogether at rest in the loving holy confidence which you ought to have in His heavenly Providence." ~St. Francis de Sales
Have a great day!
Amen! I think I'll just keep hanging out with Him.
I need to that
.
I love the simplicity of it all. Sometimes we just need to let the Lord take control and stop trying to control it all ourselves.
Very well put. So often we look to methods and techniques – when the answer is a person.
Very encouraging. When we pursue Jesus, rather than fruit, true growth happens naturally.
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