Bearing Fruit In Keeping With The Gospel
April 6, 2011
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf and has made known to us your love in the Spirit. (Colossians 1:1-8 ESV)
I am getting ready to start preaching through the book of Colossians, and as I prepare I have one convicting thought that keeps rolling through my head and that is the question, am I bearing fruit in keeping with the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
In the first 8 verses of Colossians Paul is so thankful for what has happened in the lives of those who are a part of the Church there. He says,
We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it.
In other words ever since they heard the Gospel, and understood the Gospel, they have been bearing fruit and growing! Additionally this is how what is supposed to happen! It is happening throughout the whole world. People are turning from their sin to their savior, they are hearing it, they are understanding it and they are bearing fruit as a result.
Is that happening in me? Is that happening in us?
There are many people who I know have heard the gospel, and they claim to understand the gospel, but they aren’t showing any signs of fruit in their lives. It makes me wonder, do we really get it?
I think it is time to reflect on our lives, it is time to take another look and ask ourselves if Paul wrote us a letter would he be thankful that the Gospel preached has been understood and there is evidence of growth in our lives?
It’s worth a thought.
