There are some fruits that will not keep. One
sort of pears or apples must be used at once; another sort can be kept over
till next year. So there is in Christian work some fruit that does not last.
There may be much that pleases and edified, and yet there is no permanent
impression made on the power of the world or the state of the Church. On the
other hand, there is work that leaves its mark for generations or for eternity.
In it the power of God makes itself lastingly felt. It is the fruit of which
Paul speaks when he describes the two styles of ministry: "My preaching was not
in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstrations of the Spirit and of
power; that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power
of God." The more of man with his wisdom and power, the less of stability; the
more of God's Spirit, the more of a faith standing in God's power.
Fruit reveals the nature of the tree from which
it comes. What is the secret of bearing fruit that abides? The answer is
simple. It is as our life abides in Christ, as we abide in Him, that the fruit
we bear will abide. The more we allow all that is of human will and effort to
be cut down short and cleansed away by the divine Husbandman, the more
intensely our being withdraws itself from the outward that God may work in us
by His Spirit; that is, the more wholly we abide in Christ, the more will our
fruit abide.
What a blessed thought! He chose you, and
appointed you to bear fruit, and that your fruit should abide. He never meant
one of His branches to bring forth fruit that should not abide. The deeper I
enter into the purpose of this His electing grace, the surer my confidence will
become that I can bring forth fruit to eternal life, for myself and others. The
deeper I enter into this purpose of His electing love, the more I will realize
what the link is between the purpose from eternity, and the fruit to eternity:
the abiding in Him. The purpose is His, He will carry it out; the fruit is His,
He will bring it forth; the abiding is His, He will maintain it.
Let everyone who professes to be a Christian
worker, pause. Ask whether you are leaving your mark for eternity on those
around you. It is not your preaching or teaching, your strength of will or
power to influence, that will secure this. All depends on having your life
full of God and His power. And that again depends upon your living the
truly branchlike life of abiding--very close and unbroken fellowship with
Christ. It is the branch, that abides in Him, that brings forth much fruit,
fruit that will abide.
Blessed Lord, reveal to my soul, I pray Thee,
that Thou hast chosen me to bear much fruit. Let this be my confidence, that
Thy purpose can be realized--Thou didst choose me. Let this be my power to
forsake everything and give myself to Thee. Thou wilt Thyself perfect what Thou
hast begun. Draw me so to dwell in the love and the certainty of that eternal
purpose, that the power of eternity may posses me, and the fruit I bear may
abide.
That ye may bear fruit. O my heavenly
Vine, it is beginning to dawn upon my soul that fruit, more fruit--much
fruit--abiding fruit is the one thing Thou hast to give me, and the one thing
as branch I have to give Thee! Here I am. Blessed Lord, work out Thy purpose in
me; let me bear much fruit, abiding fruit, to thy glory.