March 27, 2024 … Fruitful for Christ …

March 27, 2024 …  Fruitful for Christ  …     

Devotional Song: ...  GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in this song with lyrics from Aaron Williams singing … Abide …  Powerfully singing of how God calls His faithful to abide in Him to be fruitful in His kingdom.  

Jesus curses a fig tree ... 

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Highlight Passage: … Mark 11:13-14 [NLT] … 

13 He noticed a fig tree in full leaf a little way off, so he went over to see if he could find any figs. But there were only leaves because it was too early in the season for fruit. 14 Then Jesus said to the tree, “May no one ever eat your fruit again!” And the disciples heard him say it.             

… Jesus’ followers and His disciples hear Him curse the fig tree, later to whither and die, producing no fruit.                            

Highlight Passage (in context): …  Mark 11:12-20 … USE THIS LINK …  

… Jesus curses a fig tree to show that nothing can be fruitful without His blessing.                       

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Highlight Passage (in context) …  Genesis 1:26-28 … USE THIS LINK …  

… God created humans in His image to multiply and to be fruitful.                                                                                                                                                            

Reference Passage: … Psalms 1:1-6  [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… God’s Psalmist sings of His chosen, who faithfully abide and follow the Lord being like fruitful trees.                    

Reference Passage: … John 15:16 [NLT] …  

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.. 

… Jesus calls on all whom He called to be fruitful.  

Reference Passage: … Galatians 5:22-23 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …  

… The Apostle Paul, teaching fellow Christians, that God’s Spirit in born-again Christians produces the fruit of His Spirit for God’s kingdom.        

Reference Passage: … Colossians 1:9-10  [NLT] …  

<i>  9 So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit.  All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. 

… Again The Apostle Paul, teaches fellow Christians and prays that their (our) lives would be filled with fruitfulness as they (we) surrender to follow Christ.       

 

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread  Author, Mike Wittmer -  AT THIS LINK -   told of a young, impressible, Christian woman, named Cindy, who was excited to take a job with a non-profit company who appeared to be compatible with her Christians values, … but after some time working, she learned that the job did not allow her to contribute and become fruitful for God’s kingdom.      

And that’s what Jesus illustrated to His followers as He cursed a fig tree on His way to the cross (see photo and keynote passage), … the tree later dying and withering to never produce fruit again.  And we, as Christians,  need to learn that only by surrendering and abiding in Christ will The Lord allow us grow and be fruitful, producing the fruit of the Spirit (see Galatians 5:22-23) in our lives.  Can I be bold today and assume that all who read here with me desire to be fruitful for God’s glory? … I pray so!                      

My THANKFULNES:: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for showing me how to grow and be fruitful for Your Kingdom, Lord.      

My Prayer Today:  Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray. again today, that all reading here will join me again today, … to surrender and follow You, Lord, … to become fruitful for Your Kingdom.   … Amen

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Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.