Introductory Thoughts
Hear God's word, keep it, and it will “bring forth fruit with patience.” Today's passage comes from a series of verses (Luke 8:11-15) wherein the Lord explained the interpretation of a parable to His disciples. The Lord's interpretation incorporates another wonderful truth concerning patience. He likens patience to planting a seed and waiting for the fruit of that seed to develop and grow. Of course, the growth and maturation process takes time. A farmer going into the field every day to look for growth shows a lack of patience and wisdom. This truth equally applies to the Christian life; growing in the Lord takes time. Expecting maturity overnight is both unwise and unfruitful. A newly born-again Christian certainly cannot expect to bear the fruit of an established believer in a short period of time. In fact, the Lord promises that fruit will be brought forth only with patience. Consider the truth taught concerning the husbandman who “waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it” (James 5:7). We must all patiently wait for the seeds of life to develop into fruit in the Lord's time.
Devotional Thoughts
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(For children): A baby drinks milk for a period of time after birth. Eventually, his teeth develop and he can eat meat. Likewise, the Bible is food for the child of God. He first learns the easier parts which the Bible calls milk. As he grows and matures, he will be able to understand the harder parts called meat.
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(For everyone): Do you know anyone who ever planted a fruit tree? They would love to get the immediate benefit from the tree, but it takes time. How is your growth in Christ like a fruit tree?
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Like a seed in the ground, you should be always growing; yet the results may not be always visible. Look back over your life since you trusted Christ. What kind of fruit do you have to show?
Prayer Thoughts
- Ask God to help you bring forth fruit with patience.
- Ask the Lord to help you grow every day.
Song
LITTLE IS MUCH WHEN GOD IS IN IT
