Taken from "God's Inspirational Promise Book, Max Lucado, 1996

Do we serve God to the very best of our ability? Do we know what spiritual gifts/talents God has given us to help Him finish His great work? Sometimes our talents are clearly defined to others and blinded from ourselves.

If you don't know, don't despair. You're among friends who may also question what God has given them. God says, by their fruits, ye shall know them (Matthew 7:16). In my life Application Translation this verse states:

You can detect them by the way they act, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit.

John 15:5_8 also reads:

Yes, I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in me and I in him shall produce a large crop of fruit. For apart from me you can't do a thing. If anyone separates from me, he is thrown away like a useless branch, withers and is gathered into a pile with all the others and burned. But if you stay in me and obey my commands, you may ask any request you like, and it will be granted! My true disciples produce bountiful harvests. This brings great glory to my Father.

This verse shows Jesus making a distinction between two types of pruning; separating, and the cutting back of unproductive branches. Branches that do not produce fruit are of no value and need to be "pruned" or cut back at the trunk to keep the disease or worthlessness from spreading and infecting the whole tree. Those who do not bear fruit for God or who try to block or slow the efforts of Gods followers will be cut off from the divine flow of life. (Life Application Bible)

This subject has been of interest to me and I know that in the past, women's roles have been defined in quiet, traditional, supportive tasks. While there is certainly nothing wrong with this role, God expects us to use our talents He has given us for His glory. Just what are the fruits we must produce?

Fruit is not limited to soul-winning. Prayer, love and joy are mentioned in John 15 as fruit. Galations 5 and II Peter1 mention additional fruits that can be used to glorify God, such as patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

If we want the fruit of the Spirit to develop in our lives, we must recognize that all of these characteristics are found in Christ. We must know Him, love Him, remember Him and imitate Him.

If we do these important things, the end result will be the fulfillment of Christ's intended purpose--loving God and man. A person who is rich in the fruit of the Spirit fulfills the law far better than a person who observes the rituals but has little love in his heart.

Which of these qualities most needs further development in your life?

I know I have several areas to improve upon. God wants me to be the best can possibly be for His glory, not my own. Let's all read and take heart. We can produce fruit, with help from God and from each other.

*Taken from Life Application Bible Translation