John 15:5

New International Version (NIV)

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

For meditation

The church was small – with membership under a hundred. That however, didn’t matter. The fellowship was deep; the teaching and preaching of the word were excellent. Talk about anointed praise and worship; we were there. To complete the package, our prayer sessions were Spirit-fired. But something happened with the top leadership, and the ministry began to lose its fire. The enemy knows the Achilles heel of every church and he will exploit  it every time  the church loses vigilance. The flesh set itself up as king, and the dispersion began. Soon, the church I still relish was reduced to a tiny shell of itself in an obscure place in Accra.

But, God never losses a battle; neither are His purposes ever thwarted. The God-given vision of the Pastor was eventually fulfilled in the dispersion. Several pastors flourished from that ministry and are ministering all over the world, and yours truly is one of them. The small church has impacted our lives for the Kingdom agenda in the way God envisioned it for the young pastor, even though people may see it differently.

1. What is the vision of your life as a Christian?
2. Do you have a mission statement?Are you living up to it?
3. Jesus said He has chosen and appointed us to go and bear fruit that will last(Jn. 15:16). As a Christian, is that what your life is about?
4. Does your life honor God? Does it exemplify the purity of the Christian faith you profess?
5. Is your life impacting others for God’s Kingdom? Will people say they are better Christians because of you?

I pray we will all take stock of our lives, remembering that the positive  impact we make on other people for Christ and His Kingdom is a fruit that will remain for eternity, and will receive commendation from our Lord Jesus Christ (Matt. 25:21, 23).

So: May we remain in Jesus that we may bear fruit that will impact the Kingdom of God (Jn. 15:5); and may Christ find delight in us because we have been faithful to our call in Him.

The essence of Christian growth is seen in the impact we make on others for Christ.

Shalom