Fruit

 Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
Matthew 13:8 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/mat.13.8.ESV

How do we receive God's word? Do we take it positively, and produce fruit in response to its message? Or are we hard hearted?

There's a few reasons God's word might not bear fruit in our lives. Firstly, because we're hardened against it. Secondly we might find hardship discourages us. Thirdly, the superficiality of the world's pleasures can distract us.

What kind of fruit could the word of God bear in our lives, if we are receptive to it? I don't think it's primarily that we call others to faith in God. I suspect Jesus has in mind the fruit of the Spirit.

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. If we display those characteristics in our lives, we'll be spiritually fruitful. It's by feeding on God's word that we come to bear fruit for Him.

'Our Father God, please help us to bear fruit for You. May we build our lives on Your Word, for Your glory we pray, amen'

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