Daily Devotionals

Pressure Point Week 5: Saturday

You didn't choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. John 15:16

What do you find yourself constantly talking about? For me, it's my nieces and nephew. I'm always remembering funny things they have said. Maybe you talk about your job, kids, or adorably naughty dog. We talk about what is important to us. We talk about the people and the things that impact us. As followers of Christ, one of the markers that we are growing in our faith is that we are putting our faith into action by talking with others about Christ and the difference He has made in our lives and can make in their lives, too. After all, if Christ has significantly impacted our lives, then we cannot help by talking about Him.

Jesus talked about the importance of continuing to grow and produce fruit. In some of His final moments with His disciples in John 15, Jesus said to them, "You did not choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name" (verse 16). Jesus let His disciples know that He chose them so that they "go and produce lasting fruit." He did not want them to remain stagnant. He wanted them to grow so that they made "lasting fruit." What is lasting fruit? One element of this lasting fruit is sharing our faith and making more Christ-followers. That is why Jesus told His disciples to "go" "and produce lasting fruit." This is what happens when we grow in our faith: the growth extends beyond us so that others are impacted as well. If we are growing in our faith, we will talk about the difference Christ has made in our lives and share our faith with the people around us. We will introduce others to Christ. 

Sharing our faith in Christ is a marker of mature faith. Take a moment to evaluate your own life. Are you consistently sharing your faith in Christ with the people around you? Are you introducing people to Him? If so, keep going! Keep praying for these people. If not, it's time to start sharing your faith with others today. It's time to tell others about the greatest friend they will ever have. It's time to introduce them to the Savior.

Moving toward action

Think about the people in your life who do not know Christ. Invite one person to join you at one of our services this weekend. In doing so, you are giving them an opportunity to hear about Christ and the difference He makes in our lives. Be sure to pray for the person you invite. Pray that God would move and work in that person's life so that they will have a growing relationship with Him.

Going Deeper

John 15:1-27

"I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn't produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. 3 You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

5 "Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.

9 "I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father's commandments and remain in his love. 11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! 12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. 13 There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn't confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. 16 You didn't choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other.

The World's Hatred
18 "If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. 19 The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. 20 Do you remember what I told you? 'A slave is not greater than the master.' Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you. 21 They will do all this to you because of me, for they have rejected the one who sent me. 22 They would not be guilty if I had not come and spoken to them. But now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Anyone who hates me also hates my Father. 24 If I hadn't done such miraculous signs among them that no one else could do, they would not be guilty. But as it is, they have seen everything I did, yet they still hate me and my Father. 25 This fulfills what is written in their Scriptures: 'They hated me without cause.'

26 "But I will send you the Advocate -the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me. 27 And you must also testify about me because you have been with me from the beginning of my ministry."