“ You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should remain …..” (John 15:16).
By definition the word appointed in this verse is also translated elsewhere to be set apart or ordained. Some states in America require registration as an ordained person in order to perform certain functions, such as a marriage ceremony.
This word, choose, is very significant. As a believer In Jesus you have been chosen, set apart and ordained to do three things:
(1) …you should go—. This means focused activity through prayer and obedience to the Holy Spirit as revealed in Scripture: whether to the mission field or to your neighbor next door.
(2) … and bear fruit— The first step to bear this fruit is found in Galatians 5:22,23: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control… every Christian should produce this fruit. The second step in fruit bearing is found in John 15. The fruit referenced here is another Christian: the vine (Jesus), the branch (the believer), the fruit (another believer).
(3) …. that your fruit should remain... This is most critical. This fruit is a new believer who must be cared for until there is spiritual growth. As a newborn baby needs loving and caring parents, so a newborn believer in Jesus must receive loving care and assistance from a more mature believer.
Do you have spiritual children? Are you teaching them as you have been taught?
If you do not have spiritual children perhaps you are not abiding obediently, in the Vine.
Your Heavenly Father has ordained you, the believer, to produce “Galatians 6″ children, those who evidence the fruit of the Spirit and also “John 15″ children, those who evidence abiding in Christ by bearing spiritual fruit, another believer.
If you need counsel to achieve this end, see your pastor or a Christian friend for help.
