Thoughts on Discipleship by Dr. W. A. Dillard - HTML preview

BE FRUITFUL: AN IMPORTANT BIBLE “BE”

From earliest times, God has commanded fruitfulness. Think with me about it!

To living organisms of earth, God commanded: “. . . Be, fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth.” Genesis 1:22. To mankind God said, “. . . Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: . . .” Genesis 1:28. One only needs to search a good concordance to see that this has been a consistent command that continued through Noah, Abraham, and his physical and spiritual offspring, so that the earth is indeed filled with all the various organisms of life.

However, It is spiritual fruit that God is looking for in individuals and corporately in His church. Paul explained it this way to the Church of Colossi, 1:10, “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;”

Accordingly, one will find no few references to the importance of His people being fruitful. The parable of the sower, Matthew 13, is a typical example. But perhaps the most underscored example would be that of John 15: His lesson on the vine and the branches. The branches (His people) are to bring forth fruit, but they can do so only as they abide (live in, remain attached to, follow the guidance of) the vine, and the vine is the Lord Jesus Himself, in the narrow path of life. Otherwise, the branches would bear no acceptable fruit and would be subject to being cut off, bundled and burned. Contrary to what some may infer from this, it is not the loss of spiritual salvation, but the loss of the reward of life at the Judgment Seat of Christ where every child of God will one day stand. Note 2 Cor. 5:10; I Cor. 3:9-16.

So, abiding in Christ is the underscored idea. Such abiding must be done His way, and not man’s way! It is here that one will do well to realize that “Christ” is a Greek word. In English it means “anointed.” In New Testament times only two entities have been anointed: the head of the body, and the body of the head. The head, Jesus, was anointed at His baptism. The body of the head, His church, was anointed by the same Holy Spirit on Pentecost. It is plain beyond argument.

It follows then that to abide in Jesus is to abide in His body, the pillar and ground of the truth. This denotes genuine membership in His body, but it also means an ongoing process of growth in grace and knowledge. It is as Paul told the church at Colossi, and also Timothy, to whom he said of God, “Who will have all men saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth.” I Timothy 2:4. Friends, that is the fruit God looks for in His disciples, so be fruitful. It is an important Bible “Be”

FOR THOUGHT: Have you ever seriously considered that it is not the purpose of a branch to worry about the production of fruit, but to allow the vine to produce fruit through it? How does that compare with people seeking to produce spiritual fruit by their own religious activities in conflict with the Word? Do you see that submission to God through a good working knowledge of His Word will allow God to accomplish what He pleases through you?

BE KIND: AN IMPORTANT BIBLE “BE”

“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32. Kindness, gentleness, tenderheartedness are just three dominant characteristics that God’s people are to employ in interpersonal relationships in the body of Christ. Think with me for a minute.

While not exactly synonymous, these characteristics are definitely linked to the greatest New Testament gift: love, by which all men may know that one is a disciple of the lowly, but most highly exalted Nazarene, John 13:35. The opposite of these divine requisites is selfishness. Perhaps this may be illustrated by the following humorous story.

Mr. “Me first” sat on the third pew from the front. He did a powerful lot of squirming during the sermon that did not go unnoticed by the pastor. At the invitation, the pastor just knew “Me First” would respond, but he did not. Afterwards, the pastor asked about it. “I noticed you were uncomfortable during the message,” said the pastor. “Why did you not respond during the invitation?” “Oh,” said Me First, “I was sitting on a wasp that was stinging me.” The pastor replied, “Why then did you not get up and move to another seat?” “No need” said “Me First,” I was hurting him worse than he was hurting me!” Extrapolating this into public, and brotherly relations in the church is the antithesis of the deep-seated love that Jesus said those who know Him should have for one another.

The exhortation to the Church at Ephesus amplified the idea of Christian kindness. It means to be tenderhearted, that is, easily touched and sympathetic to the plight of others in their struggles of life. Thus, forgiving one another, and that unlike the farmer who was bitten by a mad dog. He buried him all but the tail so that when he thought about it again, he could pull him out of the ground and hit him again with a shovel. To forgive does not mean to forget, which may be impossible, but to bury offenses so deeply they are not allowed to resurface. How completely did God, for the sake of Christ, forgive each of us who repent of sins? Here then is the divine pattern to be followed by everyone in the precious body of Christ. “Kindness, tenderheartedness, and forgiveness;” what marvelous requisites the true children of God have to indelibly mark their pilgrimage on earth as Christian. Be kind! It is an important Bible “Be!”

FOR THOUGHT: Have you observed that some folks think being kind is costly? May one be very serious and forceful while being kind? An old farmer once stated he could catch more flies with honey than he could with vinegar. Do you agree?