Fruit of Your Heart

Daily Devotional: Day 76

“But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience” (Luke 8:15, NKJV).

Bearing fruit for God is quintessential to the Christian life. If we’re in love with Jesus Christ, bearing good fruit would be a natural consequence of our relationship with Him. In John 15:16, Jesus said to His Apostles, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.” Like the Apostles, Jesus has appointed us all to go and bear fruit, and not just any fruit, but fruit that lasts. This means bearing fruit is not an option. God is at work in us, and if we heed His voice and submit to Him, we will naturally produce fruit: fruit of love, joy, peace and holiness.

Today’s Bible text is taken from Luke’s account of Jesus’ parable about the sower, the seeds and the soil. The seeds that fell on good soil, according to Jesus, are those who hear the Word of God with a noble and good heart and keep it. Notice Jesus’ choice of words. Many people hear the Word of God, but few bear fruit, because hearing alone doesn’t guarantee good outcome. As Jesus points out, the condition of our heart plus what we do after hearing the Word will determine whether we produce fruit or not. To bear fruit, we must hear the Word with a noble and good heart. This means our heart must be open to truth, even if the truth makes us uncomfortable. Our heart must submit to the authority of God’s Word. And our heart must be free from rebellion and the cares of worldly pleasure.

 In addition to the condition of our heart, it’s important that we store the Word. Some people are good at hearing God’s Word, but not equally good at keeping the Word in their heart. The truth is, if the Word of God isn’t in your heart, the Holy Spirit has nothing to work with. Let’s keep our heart in good condition, for as our heart is, so shall our fruit be.

Prayer:

Daddy, stir up your Holy Spirit in me. I know that you’re at work in me. Give me a noble and good heart to hear your Word and bear abundant fruit for your glory. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

For further study: John 15:1-16