Bring fruit

Lesedauer 2 Minuten

What does it mean to bear fruit? What do we think of first of all, when we hear these words? Most of us probably associate “bearing fruit” with performance. We bring fruit when we “bring” something, do something, when we work in our own strength and something emerges from it. Because performance is important and expected in many areas such as school, work, household, etc., this meaning is often the first that comes to our mind.

In our everyday life we ​​are constantly challenged, students should get good grades, the working person should do a good job and the housewife should bring the eating to the table on time.

Also in the Bible Jesus speaks of bearing fruit and that we are destined to bear fruit. In John 15: 1-5 we read:

“I am the real vine and my father is the vine grower. Every branch on me that does not bear fruit he cuts away, and every branch that bears fruit he cuts back and cleanses it so that it bears even more fruit. However, you are already clean because you have heard and accepted my word. Abide in me and i abide in you! A vine cannot bear fruit by itself; it must stay on the vine. You cannot bear fruit either if you do not remain connected to me. I am the vinetribe; you are the vines. Whoever remains in me and I in him brings abundant fruit. Because apart from me you cannot do anything.”

How fruit grows in nature? A seed is sown, a vine grows and forms the branches that are connected to the vine. A vine cannot grow fruit from itself. Jesus makes a comparison. He is the vine, God the Father is the vine gardener and every person who has heard and accepted God’s word is a branch. How can we be branches that bear fruit? No fruit can arise from one’s own strength, through one’s own performance or actions. We are not the root that has to make its way through stones and rocks to the water and hold the plant. Nor are we the tribe that has to procure food and carry the plant. We are the branches that are simply attached to the vine and receive the sap of the plant. This is how we should stay connected with Jesus in order to bear fruit. The relationship with Jesus, to remain in him, is the prerequisite for fruit to grow in our life.

The fruits that grow on a vine also have their purpose. The grape is a food that strengthens people and it also carries the seeds of the vine and passes them on. And so, if we remain connected to Jesus, we can live in our destiny and develop fruits that strengthen and encourage our fellow human beings and pass on what Jesus gives us, his love, his peace, his hope, his light. The fruits that arise from the connection, relationship with Jesus are written down in Galatians 5:22:

“But the fruit that the spirit grows is: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, loyalty, gentleness and self-control”

God’s purpose for us does not lie in performance and our own “doing”, but in “being” children of God and making Jesus, who lives in us, visible in our lives.

Unshakeable

Lesedauer 2 Minuten

Mountains are fascinating. When I explore the mountains in which I live, I am always amazed. On summer hikes I can see the majestic high hills, let my eyes wander into the distance from above and enjoy the wonderful view. I enjoy the mountain meadows, clear lakes and deep valleys. The peaks are covered with ice and snow. After a day in the mountains, I feel a little closer to heaven.

In the Bible we often read that people meet and experience God on the mountains. Even Jesus walked to the mountains to pray and to find rest.

The size, mass and height of the mountains are enormous. They stand before me irrevocably and immovably. It is impossible to move such a mountain, it has its permanent place. It is stable over many millions of years.

Here is a short story: “Once every thousand years – only every thousand years – a bird comes to a mountain. He sits on top of the summit. There on the rock this little animal whets its beak with a short, quick movement. Then the bird flies away again. When the whole mountain is scuffed, only a second of eternity has passed. That is consistency. “

In the Bible, in Isaiah 54:10, the Lord our Merciful says:

“Mountains may remove and hills may sway, but nothing can shake my love for you and the covenant of my peace shall not fall.”

What a wonderful promise. God’s love for us is even more permanent and unshakable than any mountain on earth. No matter what happens, mountains should shake, God’s love lasts forever and cannot be shaken. God is the eternal rock, the ground on which we can stand safely. His fidelity is irrevocable and his grace never ceases. We can build on him, we can rely on his word. He never abandons those who love him.

This verse strengthens my hope, my faith and gives courage in uncertainty and difficulties. May difficult situations burden me, no certainties, changes happen in my life, his love for me is that which remains and cannot be shaken by anything, come what may. God has made a covenant of peace with us. Through Jesus Christ, who came to earth as a human being to pay for our debts and who gave his life for us, we have peace, forgiveness and access to God.

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

At the end a psalm:

My Help Comes from the Lord
1 A Song of Ascents. I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?
2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.
8 The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore. Psalm 121

Persistence

Lesedauer 3 Minuten

What is persistence? Persistence means immutability, durability, reliability, stability and loyalty. Consistency is a strong rock, a secure anchor, a constant, a hold.

Have you ever asked yourself who in this world is actually permanent, what is permanent? Does something like this actually exist?

The world is constantly changing, nothing stays the same. Times change, people change, feelings change etc. and yet people have always longed in their hearts to look for something that always remains.

“He has placed in the heart of man the desire to search about what is eternal.” Ecclesiastes 3:11

When I look back on my life, this search and the questions of meaning began at a young age. When everything changes, everything passes and nothing remains, everything has no sense either. Where do I come from? Where do I go? Why I’m here? Our life has to have a bigger meaning than that we live on earth for a few decades and then it’s all over.

I didn’t know then that my search was basically the search for God. Only he was able to satisfy this longing in me, because only God is eternal and constant.

God’s love doesn’t change

“Because I am quite sure: Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons [7], neither present nor future nor any powers, neither high nor low or anything else in the world can separate us from the love of God, which he in us Jesus Christ our Lord gives. ”Romans 8: 38-39

God’s character does not change

“I, the LORD, do not change” Malachi 3: 6

“I am the LORD, the merciful and gracious God. My patience is great, my love and loyalty know no end! I let people experience my love over thousands of generations. I forgive guilt, injustice and sin, but I do not leave everything unpunished. ”Exodus 34: 5-7

God’s good qualities do not change

“Praise the Lord, for he is good, and his grace never ceases” 1 Chronicles 16:34

God’s promises don’t change

“God is not a man that he lies, nor a human child that he should repent. Should he say something and not do something? Should he speak and not keep something? ”Numbers 23:19

God’s plans don’t change

“God also made an oath so that the recipients of this promise could be absolutely certain that it was immutable. So God gave us both his promise and his oath, both of which cannot be changed because God does not lie. For us who have sought refuge in him, this is a great encouragement, because we want to achieve the goal that lies before us, the fulfillment of hope, Hebrews 6: 17-18

God’s purposes do not change

“All good gifts and all perfect gifts come down from above, from the Father of light, with whom there is no change, nor change of light and darkness” James 1:17

God’s ways don’t change

“But what the Lord wills is forever, and what he intends is forever established” Psalm 33:11

God’s truth does not change

“Your truth endures for and for” Psalm 119.90

God’s word doesn’t change

“I assure you: not the smallest letter in God’s law – not even a single line of it – will ever lose its validity as long as heaven and earth exist. Everything must be fulfilled. ”Matthew 5:18

“Heaven and earth will pass away; but my words endure forever ”Matthew 24:35

God’s Son does not change

“Jesus Christ yesterday and today and the same forever” Hebrews 13: 8

“But Jesus lives forever, and his priesthood is therefore immortal. That is why he can completely and forever save all who turn to God through him. He lives forever to stand up for them with God. ”Hebrews 7: 24-25

“A long time ago you created everything, heaven and earth are the work of your hands. They will pass, but you will stay. Like old clothes they will fall apart, like a worn out garment you take them off and change them. But you remain one and the same, your years have no end ”Psalm 102: 26-28

God’s constant love is my rock, my anchor, my hold. I can rely on him at all times. He is my rest in a changing time and my security in eternity.