Bearing Fruit

"It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain." // John 15:16

I shouldn’t have been upset. It was silly. It was just a person unfollowing me on Instagram.

And yet somehow, realizing this person I know in real life had chosen to stop following me on social media somehow hurt my heart.

Was it something I said? Or something I didn’t? Was it an unfollow out of spite, maybe jealousy? Had I made her mad? What was wrong with her? What was wrong with me . . . ?

I stewed all night, allowed it to bug me long enough to vent to my husband, who gently asked, “Do you think maybe following you was just not bearing fruit in her life anymore? It could’ve been her, babe. Not you.”

What does that even mean, bearing fruit? And why should we be concerned about it?

Because Jesus invites us to take note of His words, His presence, and His perfect love, and bear fruit, and note the things that are (or are not) bringing abundant fruit forth in our lives. He chooses us, draws us close, loves us in the most perfect way, and sends us forth to love others mightily, and as perfectly as we can, and to remain in His love.

And perhaps there are things—or people—that aren’t helping us do that, maybe even preventing us from both receiving His perfect love and abiding in that love with others.

If that prompts an unfollow, or a pruning, or a departure, or distance, then maybe that should be welcomed, not lamented. That should be seen as fruit being born, not necessarily friendship being squashed.

God invites us to love one another—to not think of merely the moments where love seems lost, but perhaps to embrace the moments where love, His above all else, is being perfected.

How is God asking you to think of the things that are (or are not) bearing fruit in your life, and how can you invite Him into a necessary pruning so as to focus more intently on His love for you?

Love is being perfected. // @KatiePMcGradyClick to tweet

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