ARE YOU FAITHFUL AND FRUITFUL?
Blessed 5th Sunday of Easter to you. Trust that you are continuing to fervently declare “Jesus Christ Is truly risen! Alleluia!” in your living out the new life of Easter.
Today’s scripture readings remind us to always remain close to the Lord Jesus. The 1st Reading from Acts 9:26-31 gives the encouraging news that the churches in Judaea, Galilee & Samaria were growing, abiding in the Lord & filled with the Holy Spirit. They knew the importance of maintaining that deep & loving connection to Jesus, so they could have a real & active love for God & each other (cf 1 John 3:18, from our 2nd Reading). And in our Gospel (John 15:1-8), Jesus gives us the beautiful teaching that He is the Vine & we are the branches. He asks us to remain in Him so that we can be filled with His life and be fruitful. So, herein lies the key to authentic & purpose-filled living – be FAITHFUL to Jesus by remaining in Him; thus nourished & strengthen by Jesus, the True Vine, we will then be FRUITFUL in every aspect of our Christian life.
For the long-term health, vitality & fruitfulness of the vine, the branches need to be pruned. We, likewise, need to be pruned & undergo some measure of discipline. Although pruning can be painful & unpleasant, it is a vital part of our growth and development. As King Solomon in Proverbs 3;11-12 says so wisely: “My child, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves the one he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.” The author of the Letter to the Hebrews also adds in Hebrews 12:7,9-11: “Endure trials for the sake of discipline. God is treating you as children; for what child is there whom a parent does not discipline? God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share his holiness. Now, discipline always seems painful rather than pleasant at the time, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”
How does this sound to you? If, like me, you want to love God & to do His will, but fear, dislike & want to avoid the pruning process, then how should we handle this quandary? What should we do when we are so conditioned by our modern, feel-good, pleasure-seeking & self-serving culture that we rebel against the ways & the wisdom of the Lord? Here’s when we need, now, more than ever, to remain in Jesus; to let His peace fill our hearts; to trust more fully in Him & to let His Holy Spirit open our eyes to not focus on the ‘pain of the pruning process’, but on the ‘joy of the harvest of fruitfulness’.
Here's to a faithful & fruitful week ahead, in the love, peace & joy of our Risen Lord Jesus!
Article by Damian Boon, HFC Blog Team Lead