Christians MUST Shine!

Jesus said, “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear MUCH fruit; so you will be My disciples” (Jn 15:8). Jesus glorified the Father by bearing fruit in every walk of His life. He preached the good news, He healed the sick, cast out devils and raised the dead! To put it mildly, he was on a mission.

He was bringing the kingdom of God to earth in everything He did!  For us to bear fruit for the kingdom of God, as Jesus did, we must “receive the seed (the Word of God) into the good ground of our heart (which is hearing the Word and understanding it)”, and we will then bear much fruit in different measures (Mt 13:23).

Regardless of our work or occupation, it is our primary duty to share the love of God with people. We can’t say “well, I’m not a preacher, so I don’t have to be a light to the world”. Jesus said to all believers, “you are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Mt 5:14-16).

In other words, He was saying that christianity 101 is to be a LIGHT. God has given each one of us gifts and talents to use for His glory. Some of us are good at art, others at sport, and yet others at finances, etc. God shaped all of us differently and He takes pleasure in seeing us use the gifts and the talents He’s given us. But it remains our primary responsibility to share God’s love and to be a DOER of the teachings of Jesus in whatever capacity we are being used in. Christians cannot be silent about their faith.

Remember the parable of the talents. The master was most pleased with those who used and grew their talents and he was disappointed in the one who did nothing with his talents. This parable is not only related to the gifts that God gives us, but to winning souls and making disciples. Jesus said that that’s what the kingdom is about. “For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods…to every man according to his several ability; (Mat 25:14-30)

Jesus passed on to us the secret to discipleship in Jn 15: “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (Jn 15:4-5).

So if you’re a Christian disciple, ask God for boldness and specifically how you can bear more fruit for Him.

“By their fruits you will know them“(Mt 7:18, 20).