You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other.
John 15:16-17 NIV
Jesus had spent three years with His disciples, teaching them about the kingdom of God and preparing them to lead His church after He was gone. And now, on the night before His crucifixion, He shared some final thoughts with them. These words were delivered to those He had called and commissioned as His apostles. But I believe these words about bearing fruit have relevance for all His disciples throughout the ages.
Bearing Fruit
Christ had chosen and appointed the Twelve, as well as today’s disciples, to bear fruit. Fruit that would last. Bearing fruit as a believer is a challenging topic. What is the fruit that I am expected to produce? As believers, each of us has been called and equipped to serve the body of Christ. If we faithfully carry out the task Christ has given us, then the body is built up, and we are fruitful. My fruit is what is produced by my faithful service to the Lord and His Church.
Closely related to this topic of producing fruit is loving each other. There may be no more important command that Jesus gave to His church than that we love one another. The more we love each other, the more fruitful we will be in our service to Jesus and His church. Love is like the fertilizer that will produce a more abundant harvest. Love one another. And bear fruit that will last into eternity.
Answered Prayer
Jesus also told His disciples that whatever they ask in His name, the Father would give them. But this is not a blank check with Jesus’ name signed at the bottom. These words are given in relation to our bearing fruit. If we are faithfully serving Jesus, we can trust that the Father will give us what we need to be maximally fruitful. All we need to do is ask.
