Filled With Fruit – December 11, 2021

Be filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
Philippians 1:11

Filled With Fruit

When I was in college, one of my roommates liked to eat at an all-you-can-eat buffet. One night he took that all-you-can-eat part as a challenge. He loaded up on mashed potatoes and gravy to the point of being so uncomfortable that someone else had driven home.

God tells us to stuff ourselves, but not with food for our stomachs nor with all kinds of things to satisfy our heart’s desires. We are to be filled with the fruit of righteousness.

Righteousness is the reason for which Jesus, the Son of God, was born and lived here on earth. For us to live with God forever, we need to be absolutely perfect. God requires us to be righteous. But none of us, no matter how good we try to be, can live up to God’s perfect standard. That’s why the birth of Jesus that we celebrate at Christmas is so important. In love for you, Jesus took on our human nature and lived a perfect, sinless life. The peace that Christmas brings us is the assurance that our relationship with God is restored. By grace, God credits us with the perfection of Jesus! We are righteous in God’s eyes through Jesus.

God’s Word says, “Be filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ.” Fill your life with words and actions that demonstrate how thankful you are to Jesus for all he has done for you. Just like those thank-you notes that will soon be written for the Christmas gifts you receive, your life is a living thank-you to the Savior for the greatest gift you could ever receive. Demonstrate your love for Jesus with many acts of kindness and generosity towards people and with words overflowing with care and encouragement for others.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, fill me with your Holy Spirit so that this day I am filled with fruits of righteousness that bring glory to your name. Amen.