Let me tell you a little bit about my Scripture writing. I finished the Book of Acts and started working on Luke. I am leading a group this fall that will focus on what Luke has to say about Jesus, so I wanted to have this Gospel under my belt.

Well it didn’t take long for me to be amazed at what I have overlooked through these years as a Bible teacher. I loved reading and writing Luke’s introduction to his book.

Written to his friend Theophilus, Luke states that many had taken up the pen to write about all that had been fulfilled. But that since Luke had “carefully investigated everything from the beginning” of Jesus’ life, that he felt it would be good for him to write his own account. (Luke 1:3 – NIV)

But it was for more than just documentation. It was “so that you (Theophilus) may know the certainly of the things you have been taught.” (Luke 1:4 – NIV)

This Gospel has been handed down from generation to generation so that each one of us might read the words written here and know for certain that all we have learned about Jesus is true. Luke may have been thinking of Theophilus and himself at the time, but God used Luke’s penmanship to record the birth, teachings, death and resurrection of Jesus.

Not too far into the book, I found another interesting piece of teaching. John the baptizer spoke these words. “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” (Luke 3:8 – NIV) Do these words sound familiar? They should! Jesus spoke these same words in John 15 (and at other times as well). Paul spoke of fruit on several occasions. Romans 7:4, Philippians 1:11, Colossians 1:10 and Hebrews 13:15 are examples. And James, the brother of Jesus, spoke of fruit in James 3:17.

This bearing fruit thing is important. But what John says here is that we are to produce fruit in keeping with repentance. As we repent of sin in our lives, good fruit is to replace the bad fruit.

And that good fruit should continue to produce so that we ourselves see the production of fruit, but also so that others will know us by the fruit we bear. Jesus reminds us of this truth in John 15:8 (NIV). “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”

So I have to ask you. What fruit are you producing? Is it in keeping with your repentance? Do others know you are a believer of Jesus because of the fruit you bear?

What fruit do we produce? Some are mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23. Do you have these verses memorized? “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” These are the characteristics (fruit) we produce as we remain in Jesus and as we repent.

Jesus also says this in John 15. “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” (John 15:1-2 – NIV)

If you’re not bearing fruit, God has a plan. If you’re bearing fruit, God has a plan. The fruit we bear shows that we belong to Jesus and as we remain in Him, we produce a lot of fruit.

John’s exhortation is for you and me. “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” Today I pray that you will remain in Jesus. I pray that your fruit is bountiful. I pray that through God’s pruning process you will produce even more fruit. And I also pray that others will know who you belong to because of the fruit you produce.

It’s harvest time!

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna