Devotion #4: Am I Bearing Fruit?

“Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.” Romans 7:4 

In this passage, Paul declares that the Law has no authority over sin and no longer condemns believers. Now, this does not mean that, as believers, we do not have rules to follow because we definitely do. What Paul is trying to convey is that through Christ’s sacrifice, we are now able to become holy. However, we are only able to become holy through Christ Jesus. As we read, “so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead.”  

As followers of Christ, we are told that we must be Christ-like by following Christ’s example on the cross, His ministry on earth, and in His relationship with God. We need to be careful with this because if we are believers but do not abide in Him, we will not become holy, and we will not bear the fruit being talked about at the end of the passage when it says, “In order that we may bear fruit for God.” This ultimately means that when we are serving for the Lord, we will bear fruit. Something good will grow from the work that is being put into it. 

It is much like growing a plant. When tending to a plant, you have to get the correct soil; you also have to make sure you water it just enough and put it in the sunlight at a certain time of day. When all that work and attentativeness is put into growing the plant, in the end, there will be a beautiful blooming organism. Much like when we abide in Christ, our relationship with Him will be fruitful, and we will start to become more like Him. We will be living out the Fruit of the Spirit.  

Galatians 5:22-24 records, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” 

However, when Paul mentions, “in order that we may bear fruit for God,” He is talking about more than just abiding in Christ, but abiding in Christ to accomplish good works. The Bible mentions the phrases like bearing fruit or being fruitful a lot of times and in many different ways. However, I personally think that Colossians 1:10 does a great job of defining what it means to spiritually bear fruit, “So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” 

The rest of the passage in Colossians identifies this statement in Romans very well if you would like to dive into it. Because we are now made holy in Christ and He has paid our wages of death, we are to walk in a manner pleasing to the Lord, especially in what we do for Him.  

Our works for Him are found in the way we serve Him. For some it is serving at church on a Sunday morning either on stage, guest services, or in children’s ministry - it all matters. Others find it by serving in nonprofit organizations, or simply doing small things for the Lord and others in your daily life. It could be cooking a meal for someone or donating clothes. 

In all these ways, when we serve the Lord we want it to be in a manner that will bear fruit. How is that done? It is through doing it in a manner worthy of Him. How do we do that? We need to check ourselves continually making sure the work that we are putting in comes from a place of love. We need to make sure that our walk is in line with Christ and not of the world.  

As a Children’s Director, I always tell my volunteers to be careful of “pouring from an empty cup.” We cannot pour from an empty cup, because the cup is dry and therefore without nourishment. When the cup is without nourishment, the one we are feeding it to will not be nourished. So, when we are not in line with Christ, our works will be without fruit.  

Is there something in your life that is hindering you from bearing fruit? If so, are you walking in a manner that is pleasing to the Lord? Jesus made a way for us to be able to come to the Father whenever we need to. I encourage you to be in prayer and evaluate yourself today.