Welcome back to "A Word from the Vine." In the past two episodes, we have talked about being bound to the vine and shaping for growth. Today, we will focus on the ultimate goal of the vineyard: bearing fruit in due season.
The Apostle Paul reminds us in Galatians 5:22-23 that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These are the fruits that we should aim to bear as followers of Christ.
Just as our vineyard needs to be pruned and shaped to produce good fruit, our lives also need to be pruned and shaped by God's Word and the Holy Spirit. It is through this process that we can bear the fruit of the Spirit.
However, we cannot rush the process. Just as a grapevine takes time to mature and produce good fruit, we too need to be patient and trust in God's timing. We may face trials and tribulations along the way, but we can take comfort in knowing that God is with us and that the fruits of the Spirit will be worth the wait.
As we reflect on the three episodes we've covered, we can see how they are all connected. We must be bound to the vine of Christ to produce good fruit, we must allow ourselves to be shaped by God's Word and the Holy Spirit, and we must be patient as we wait for the fruit of the Spirit to grow in us.
Let us pray: Heavenly Father, we thank you for the lessons we have learned from our vineyard. Help us to stay connected to Christ, to allow ourselves to be shaped by your Word and the Holy Spirit, and to be patient as we wait for the fruit of the Spirit to grow in us. May our lives be a testimony to your grace and love. In Jesus' name, Amen.
I'm Pastor Loren Christensen. Thank you for joining us for this series of "A Word from the Vine." May you bear much fruit in due season.
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