Fruit Bearing

     John the baptist was preparing the way for the Lord.  He went into all the country around the Jordan preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  He had very strong words for the crowds coming out that wanted to be baptized.  (Luke 3:7-9) "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?  Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.  And do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.'  For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.  The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire."  Their hearts were certainly NOT in the right place.  They heard what was being preached and got scared...They had better act on this before something bad happened to them!  Feeling impending doom brings about action.  I am convinced of this.
     God does not want sacrifice, baptism, servitude, or anything else produced from anything other than a true dedication and love for Him.  Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 1:3 "We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ."  Is my heart motivated by and centered on LOVING God?
     God tends to his garden and cares for the fruit that is bore.  Are we connected to Jesus in every way?  What compels us to do what we do?  (John 15:1-2) “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful."  If a branch is not connected to the vine then it simply dies.  Nothing fruitful can come from it.
     Pruning...  In our vegetable garden my husband planted tomatoes.  He set up trellises so that they could climb up and stay off of the ground.  He guided them and supported them. Once the growing process hit a certain stage he had to prune back some of the branches.  If he hadn't pruned, we would have had a lot more tomatoes budding.  However, very few would have come to maturity.  The pruning helped the tomatoes that were produced to be beautiful, ripe, tasty fruit.  Everyday he would go out and water his plants.  He'd make sure no pests were getting at them.  He would pinch off any branches that were withering and becoming problems.
     When I think of being a fruit-bearing person, I often seem to overlook the pruning step.  Being pruned and molded by the Lord doesn't promise to be a 'feel-good' experience.  He has to take any bad parts off so that we can be as fruitful and productive as possible for HIM.  This can hurt.  But it is sooo refining and good!  In the end, we will be beautiful fruit-bearers if we allow him to work completely. 
     "Lord, thank you that you have a plan.  Thank you that you know what I need to be a woman who serves you with her whole heart.  Cut off the areas of my life that are displeasing to you, Father.  Keep me in your hands.  I want my motives for serving you to be motivated by nothing more than love for you and gratitude for what you have done for me.  Show me how to love you more."