Daily Devotions
Philippians
"Fruit from my labour..."
Text: Philippians 1:22
BEARING FRUIT IN LIFE
It was the Lord Jesus Himself who taught His disciples about bearing fruit in their life. The following statements summarise the teaching of the Lord Jesus on the subject of bearing fruit.
1. Appointed to bear fruit that would remain (John 15:16).
2. Bearing fruit is through abiding in Christ (John 15:4).
3. Branches are expected to bear much fruit (John 15:5).
4. Branches are pruned to bring forth more fruit (John 15:2).
5. God is greatly glorified through fruitfulness (John 15:8).
6. Bearing fruit is an indicator of being a disciple (John 15:8).
7. The lack of fruit warrants serious self-examination.
a) The branch is not abiding in Christ (John 15:5).
b) It is in danger of being thrown away (John 15:6).
BEARING OF FRUIT IN PAUL’S LIFE
The apostle Paul determined that he would bear fruit for the Lord Jesus Christ.
“But if I live on in the flesh,
this will mean fruit from my labour;
yet what I shall choose I cannot tell.”
Philippians 1:22
1. Two options in mind
a) To live
b) To die
2. “But if I live on in the flesh”
a) Paul considered the first option.
b) If he were to live on in the flesh.
i) He will labour hard for the Lord.
ii) Through his labour he would bear fruit for the Lord.
iii) Bearing fruit was certainly a prominent thought in his mind.
3. “Yet what I shall choose I cannot tell”
a) Paul was looking at the second option… “to die”.
b) Death was not loss but gain.
He had no fear of death. Sometimes it was hard to choose to live or to die!