Fruitful relationships

In our staff meeting on Monday, Gordon asked the following question: “What is the fruit of an apple tree?”  The immediate reply would be an apple, correct?  Gordon pointed out that if the fruit is only the apple, then in one generation there would be no more apple trees.  The actual fruitfulness of an apple tree is another apple tree, which is replication.  In the words of Jesus in Matthew 28:19-20, this is the process of making disciples.  Fruitfulness is not simply becoming more like Christ (exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit), nor does it stop at sowing the seed of the Gospel.  Fruitfulness is the investment in the lives of others so that we can teach them to follow all the things the Savior has taught us and what we find in the Word of God.  

The entire issue of fruitfulness hangs on relationships.  My relationship with Christ as He has saved me.  My relationship with the Holy Spirit who indwells me from the moment of salvation, teaching and guiding me in all truth.  The evidence of this is seen in the fruit of the Spirit which is His working in and through us to make us more like Christ and less like ourselves.  It is also my relationship with those around me as I build trusting relationships so they can see and also hear the Gospel and be drawn by God to His salvation.  And it continues in my relationship with those who need to be discipled, to be taught, to learn more about following and serving Christ through and by my example.  

So maybe we need to look at our relationships and see just how fruitful they really are…

Pressing On,

Ron Tipton, Senior Pastor