Joy, August 26, 2008

Joy, August 26, 2008

"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
"By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
"As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.
"If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.
"These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.

John 15:7-11

Father, we know that the context of the first verse is sitting in verse two. It is Your will that we bear much fruit. We know the fruits of the Spirit: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. You will richly endow those who ask for anything that assists them to bear fruit.

We sometimes focus on our wants but here you teach us that you will bless us beyond our needs with those things that help us bear more fruit. Certainly we know Father, that the opposite of each of those fruits is a characteristic of the evil one (hate, despair, depression, impatience, unkindness, sinfulness, faithlessness, bullying and an out of control temper).

Help us Father, every moment to evaluate what kind of a fruit tree we are. Let us have more and more of Your nature Jesus which You have so generously offered. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

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