Wednesday, April 13, 2016

True abiding = much fruit

Constant emphasis on living out the second part of the greatest commandment without a regular reminder that this must flow out of participation in the first part can deteriorate into a performance-based approach to God.

Constant emphasis on the first part without a regular reminder that the fruit-evidence that we are truly participating in the first part is the second part, loses sight that only Gods love can empower us to carry it out.

" 'Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?'
And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment
And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself." - 
Jesus answering the question of a self righteous Pharisee among the crowd. Mat 22:36-39

All legitimate fruit must be the result of abiding. But true abiding always results in much fruit.

"...Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. - Jesus to his disciples at the Last Supper. Joh 15:4-5

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Grace to you
Jim Deal