Written by Jocelynn Goff, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Arkansas
I planted a garden again this year and I am anticipating the harvest of tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, and peppers. I’m especially looking forward to one of my favorites: a crisp cucumber and fresh tomato sandwich. A fresh tomato on a BLT (bacon, lettuce, and tomato) sandwich may be your favorite, or a cucumber tomato salad, or canning fresh salsa. Whatever it is, if it comes fresh from the garden it’s always better than store-bought. But it’s often hard to know if this will be an abundant harvest with plenty to share or just a lot of hard work for a disappointing harvest.
However, we know that if God plants a garden or vineyard the harvest will be plentiful and it will not disappoint. As we read in Zecharaiah 8:12 (CSB) “For they will sow in peace: the vine will yield its fruit, the land will yield its produce, and the skies will yield their dew. I will give the remnant of this people all these things as an inheritance.” This is a promise from God to the remnant of Israel. God is telling them that He will supply an abundance for them.
As we read further in Zecharaiah 8 we see that there are conditions requiring obedience that are a part of this promise. Zecharaiah 8:16 says, “These are the things you must do: Speak truth to one another, make true and sound decisions within your city gates. Do not plot evil in your hearts against your neighbor, and do not love perjury for I hate all this – this is the LORD’s declaration.” And, get this, if they act in obedience to this, then the result as Zecharaiah 8:22-23 shares, “Many people and strong nations will come to seek the LORD of Armies in Jerusalem and to plead for the Lord’s favor. The LORD of Armies says this: “In those days, ten men from nations of every language will grab the robe of a Jewish man tightly, urging: Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”
So, God gives the remnant a fruitful harvest to enjoy if they obey His commands, and the result is another type of fruit. This is the fruit of someone who wants to know about the LORD.
This is a pretty amazing progression of fruit, obedience, and bearing fruit.
However, I know you may be thinking this is an Old Testament situation and doesn’t apply to today and to me. Let’s look at some other New Testament scriptures. John 13:34 Jesus says, “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.” Applying the principle of following our Lord’s commands, if we love one another—and love is one of the fruit of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5:22—then the result will be that everyone will know that we are His disciples.
This is that double fruit. Fruit within us and then fruit around us because they know we are His.
To carry this thought further we know that the fruit of love is not from our own effort. We need to die to ourselves much as a seed dies when it is planted in order to produce a harvest. As John 12:24 reminds us, “Truly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains by itself. But if it dies, it produces much fruit.”
In addition, in Romans 7:4b we also bear fruit through the body of Christ as it says, “You belong to Him Who was raised from the dead in order that we may bear fruit for God.” If we belong to Him then we may bear fruit. This reminds me of the words of Jesus in John 15:5, “I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me.”
Since I believe all Iron Rose Sisters want to bear fruit, then we must ask ourselves these questions:
- Am I obedient by practicing the fruit of the Spirit of love so others will know I am His?
- Have I become a seed and died to myself?
- Do I belong to the One who was raised from the dead?
- Am I remaining in Him because I can do nothing without Him?
Blessings to all my Iron Rose Sisters as we journey forward in obedience and bearing fruit.
