In case you are wondering what the title scripture reference says I will save you the time and effort of looking it up. It says, "16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. 17 These things I command you, that ye love one another."
I was looking at some Facebook postings and saw a partial quote that brought this scripture to my mind. This is a passage I meditate on often. I ponder it because I am concerned about the affect I am having on folks God puts in my path. The fruit that is produced in us should have a life changing impact on those who are hungry and thirsty that we encounter.
I fear in our man made schemes and cunningly thought out programs of religion we attempt to force a loving God on those who come to us. We have in fact forced them into one or the other of two equally bad options…rebellion or hypocrisy.
Such a simple passage, I so misunderstood and by so doing I lead others into rebellion and hypocrisy. But I have come to know once the seed of Christ is planted it's purpose is to produce in me love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance. When I will cultivate, water and nurture the seed it will produce its fruit in my life and the hungry will be fed. When they feed on the fruit the eternal seed from which the fruit is produced will be planted in them and the seed will continue to produce its fruit from generation to generation. Then when I approach God with a request having planted the fruit producing seed and it bringing forth it's fruit my petitions will granted according to His will.
To His followers Jesus said go, produce, plant and the result is harvest but I changed the plan to lead, force and the result was rebellion or hypocrisy.
i am,
Babu Lonnie
