March 30

This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, proving yourselves to be My disciples. — John 15:8 BSB

Bearing much fruit not only brings glory to God, but it also proves that those who bear such fruit are genuine disciples of the Lord Jesus. Although there is no merit in bearing fruit, believers sometimes find comfort in it as evidence of their abiding union with Christ. Jesus said, “If you keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in His love.” There can be no holy confidence in the soul without walking in godly obedience, and no true spiritual communion with God while the weight of disobedience burdens the conscience. To walk in the fear of God, to live for His glory, and to walk in obedience are not only tests of true discipleship, but faith, hope, and love cannot be sustained without them.

Yet, if we understand what gospel fruit is and recognize our own frailty as sinners, must we not often bow our heads in shame, lamenting our barrenness and crying, “My leanness, my leanness, woe unto me!” But if we see and feel our lack of fruitfulness in ourselves and others, comparing our hearts, words, and lives to the truth of Scripture and confessing our guilt, should this utterly discourage us? No, this very discouragement may be of great benefit to us. It is good to be discouraged at times, for it teaches us that “without Christ we can do nothing,” and that it is only by His grace that we can bear fruit to God’s glory. In this way, it is good to see and feel our barrenness and unfruitfulness, for it drives us earnestly to seek the Lord Jesus Christ, that He might work in us to will and to act according to His good pleasure.