DNA: Fruit
Summary: Love is the fruit Jesus is looking for.
The presence of fruit says a lot about a person’s life. In John 15:8, Jesus said, “When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples” (NLT).
In this passage Jesus emphasized a loving relationship between us and himself – not as a slave to a master but as a friend to a friend. “As the Father has loved me, I have also loved you. Remain in my love” (John 15:9, HCSB).
Love is the fruit Jesus is looking for.
Jesus knew he was loved by the Father. So, with that love, he shared love. Remaining in his love is knowing with experience that we are loved. And when we know we are loved, we will share love, and prove we are true followers of Jesus.
There are many aspects of the Kingdom of God that are not in our control — like a person in our small group deciding to follow Jesus, or those in our small group becoming faithful sharers of the gospel and starting three new small groups (wouldn’t that be nice!). But others’ choices are not in our control.
What is in our control is becoming a person of love and urging others to become people of love. Love compels a person to go beyond their social strata and culture to share the gospel. Love leads someone to surrender their own wants to pour out generosity. Love moves a person to sacrifice time and comfort so others can discover God.
What would happen if we took every opportunity for our small groups to become people of love? Who would they share the gospel with? How much time would they sacrifice so others could hear? How generous would they be so others could hear?
