John 15:16
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide…” (John 15:16)
Tsuruta san had a delightful, outgoing personality and an infectious faith. Hardly a Sunday passed in our fledgling church in Japan but Miss Tsuruta would have a fellow university student with her. Many of them came to Christ. For her, Jesus’ promise proved true- “You did not call me, but I called you and appointed you to go and produce fruit…” (vs 16).
Ijima san, however, was the opposite. She was so quiet and retiring I didn’t even see her the first time she came to church. She stood outside the meeting room, hidden behind the crowd. She left a note for me, however: “I like the atmosphere here and will return if you do not call on me to pray.” The middle-aged widow had heard me call on a church member to lead in prayer and she didn’t want that to happen to her! During the months that followed I carefully safeguarded her desire for unobtrusive participation, never asking her to do anything “public.” One day she told me that she was having a luncheon at her home and wanted me to attend. She was inviting some neighbors and friends and wanted me to tell them about Jesus. The occasion was elegant in traditional Japanese style and many women, decked out in their finest kimonos, were seated on their heels around the low table. How could they not be there? She had loved them with constant concern and help. Why, she even cared for their cats! When the time came for what I expected would be the introduction of her foreign male guest, Ijima san reached beneath the table and produced a scroll, written in ancient characters, and with hands trembling, began to read the story of her spiritual pilgrimage.
Did Jesus keep his promise? Several of the women who gathered about her table that day gather still at the table of the Lord, almost thirty years later- “fruit that remains.” Quiet, timid Ijima has born more fruit than anyone else.
Winning people to Christ is one kind of fruit, but there are many other ministries as well. According to Paul every believer is given at least one ability to serve God (I Cor 12). For each of these God promises effectiveness, that is, “fruit.” More than that- lasting fruit!
In John 15 Jesus promises a supernatural life that overflows with qualities very like his own. And yet, many in our day deny the possibility of such a life. “It’s not realistic,” they say. I have a problem with that opinion. I’ve seen the life Jesus promised lived out. I can never get away from the reality of a life that produced a bumper crop right in my own home. At my father’s memorial service I told hundreds of mourners that I had – in 25 years – never once seen my father fail in living a Christlike life. To me that is not threatening, something to be denied, explained away. It is wonderfully reassuring to see in living color the reality of Christ’s promise fulfilled in a fellow “branch.”
We tend to evaluate people, especially Christian leaders, in terms of their giftedness. But God is the judge and he’s already passed judgment: fruit is more important! One reason is that the fruit is the more sure measure of our relationship to the Spirit, and that’s why our recognition by him on the last day will be based on faithfulness, a fruit. Of course, that faithfulness includes faithfulness in fulfilling our calling, using our gifts for Kingdom advance, but that will be ony one small part of the evaluation. There’s another reason conspicuous fruit is more important to God than conspicuous gifting, and that has to do with the relationship between natural and supernatural abilities. Whether God chooses to bypass natural ability/inability, or whether the Spirit lifts a natural ability to a higher power, we may not always know. But if it’s a Spirit gift, there will be the Spirit’s miracle touch.
But don’t be misled. It isn’t the strategy for ministry that wins the victory. It’s the Spirit! Never forget that the secret of success in the Christian life, including consistent success in ministry effectiveness or of overcoming temptation, does not ultimately depend on a technique, strategy, or your own activity. No matter how skilled you get in wielding the weapons, the Spirit provides as you participate with Him in winning the battles. Ultimately, it’s the Holy Spirit within who is the overcomer.
Victory may sound triumphalistic and may grow dim anyway. Even if that were possible, we are not sure we want it. Can we really have enough power to win out over the world of stuff, the fun of the flesh, and the pride of ourselves? Absolutely! We have the power to consistently overcome temptation and grow into greater likeness to Jesus. We have Almighty God in residence to empower us to be all we were meant to be.