Reverence and Awe

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible


"... the branch cannot bear fruit of itself..." John 15:4

How did you begin to bear fruit? It was when you came to Jesus and cast yourselves on His great atonement, and rested on His finished righteousness.

These words feed my soul more than I think I understand. I cannot hear them enough... this morning in particular. These past couple of months have been unusually difficult in ways not altogether familiar to me. It's not that I can't identify the causes of these trials... they're actually quite common in my life. My struggles rest more in understanding the motivations of my heart as Christ, by His Spirit, leads me through them. It's a funny thing being a sinful human being... it's seems all to easy to confuse understanding truth with practicing truth. Perceiving what is right and good and true... and at times, deceiving myself into believing that my actions replicate my knowledge. This is why God's Word and Spurgeon's devotion this morning feeds my soul. Is there anyone reading this post that has a better solution to their sin and lack of fruitfulness than casting themselves "on His great atonement"?! Anyone want to rest in their own determination and hard work... rather than resting "on His finished righteousness"?!

As I type this post... I am becoming increasingly grateful for my redemption. And I am confident in His Word when he says "you did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain..." John 15:16
Our God keeps his promises... so I will strive to live today for His glory knowing that whatever fruit He produces and I bear... will remain!

... the more simply we depend upon the grace of God in Christ, and wait upon the Holy Spirit, the more we shall bring forth fruit unto God. Oh! to trust Jesus for fruit as well as for life.

Soli Deo Gloria!!

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening