RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL. YOU MUST KEEP BEARING FRUITS - PASTOR CHRIS OYAKHILOME PHD MONDAY, MAY 23RD 2016

He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down (Luke 13:6-9).

The scripture above is a parable told by the Lord Jesus Christ with which He emphasized the importance of fruitfulness in God's Kingdom. The owner of the vineyard had come seeking fruit from a particular fig tree, but there was none. Then he said to the vinedresser, "Cut it down." The vinedresser, however, pleaded for more time to cultivate the tree some more, perhaps eventually it'd produce fruits. Otherwise, it could be cut down.

The tree was of no value in the vineyard if it wouldn't produce any fruits. In the same way, the Christian is a tree of righteousness in the Lord's vineyard and is expected to be productive (Isaiah 61:3). A Christian that's not producing fruits of righteousness is like the fig tree which the owner of the vineyard said should be cut down, and to which he said, *"...why cumbereth it the ground?"* (Luke 13:7). In other words, why waste good ground for an unproductive tree?

Some Christians have been born again for a very long time, yet they've never led a soul to Christ; they've never brought someone else to church. That's like the unproductive fig tree. If perhaps, you've been that way, you must make a change today! First, ask the Lord to forgive you. Then, ask the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you to witness to someone today about Jesus Christ. Start from today to tell others about Jesus, who He is to you, and His saving grace.

Paul said, *"For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead"* (2 Corinthians 5:14). Be passionate about bearing fruits for the Lord, because He desires that of you.

*PRAYER*

Dear Father, I thank you for the opportunity to be inspired and instructed by your Word. I'm like a well-watered garden, fruitful at all times. I'm the fruit-bearing part of God's vine and I'm producing durable fruits; fruits of righteousness, because I'm a tree of righteousness, in Jesus' Name. Amen.

*Further Study:* *||* John 15:1-2 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. *||*

*||* John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. *||*

*||* 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. *||*

*Daily Scripture Reading*

*1-Year Bible Reading Plan:* John 11:1-16,
2 Kings 10-12

*2-Year Bible Reading Plan:* 1 Corinthians 11:30-34,
Proverbs 19

*EXTRACT FROM: Rhapsody of Realities Daily Devotional*