Luke 8:15 teaches us about the process of producing fruit as followers of Christ. This process involves three key steps, as outlined in the passage: "But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop." (Luke 8:15, NIV)
Let's look at each step in more detail.
Firstly, we need to hear the word of God. This means not only reading and studying the Bible but also actively listening to the Holy Spirit speaking to us through the Scriptures. As Romans 10:17 reminds us, faith comes from hearing the message of Christ.
Secondly, we need to retain the word in our hearts. This involves not only memorizing Scripture but also applying it to our lives and obeying God's commands. As Matthew 3:8 and Leviticus 22:31 tell us, producing fruit is a result of repentance and keeping God's commands. We must also guard against forgetting God's word, as illustrated in 1 Chronicles 10:13, which describes Saul's downfall due to his unfaithfulness to God's word.
Thirdly, we need to persevere in faith. This means enduring trials and hardships that test our faith and refine us. As James 1:3-4 tells us, testing produces perseverance, which leads to maturity and completeness in Christ. We are called to remain steadfast in our faith and to trust in God's faithfulness even when circumstances are difficult.
By following this process, we will produce fruit that reflects the character of Christ in our lives. This fruit includes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Ultimately, our fruit-bearing brings glory to God and testifies to His goodness and grace.
Also read the "Fruitful" promises of the Lord in Deuteronomy.
Deuteronomy 28:1-14
1 If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. 2 All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God: 3 You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country. 4 The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock-the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks. 5 Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed. 6 You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out. 7 The LORD will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven. 8 The LORD will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The LORD your God will bless you in the land he is giving you. 9 The LORD will establish you as his holy people, as he promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of the LORD your God and walk in his ways. 10 Then all the peoples on earth will see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they will fear you. 11 The LORD will grant you abundant prosperity-in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your ground-in the land he swore to your forefathers to give you. 12 The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. 13 The LORD will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the LORD your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom. 14 Do not turn aside from any of the commands I give you today, to the right or to the left, following other gods and serving them.
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