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Colossians 1.6-12

As the gospel spreads throughout Central Asia, people’s lives are changed. Paul writes in Colossians 1.6(b), “. . . the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace.” Fruit follows faith.

If you plant an apple tree, you expect apples. If the tree goes one or two years without bearing apples, you start to wonder what is wrong with it. You consider cutting it down and planting something else. Just like something is wrong when an apple tree doesn’t produce apples, something has gone very wrong when our faith doesn’t produce spiritual fruit.

As Jeff Manion reminds us in the clip from the weekend services (see below), understanding the grace of God should impact our lives. An initial burst of spiritual fruit is great, but we should desire more fruit in ourselves and others. Paul’s prayer in verses 9-12 longs for the Christ-followers in Colossae to continue bearing fruit.

Since spiritual fruit follows faith, we should constantly yearn to produce fruit. We need to understand both the grace of God and the way of God. Understanding the grace of God should impact our relationship with other people at the core.

Reflect upon your time as a Jesus follower, whether it is 10 days, 10 months, or 10 years. What are some areas where you would like to bear more fruit? In your The New You journal, write down one or two areas (for a PDF version to print, click here). Ask God’s Spirit to help you be sensitive to how you can grow in these areas.