Every human heart wants to know, “Am I loved? Am I important? Why am I here on earth, and does my existence and life have purpose? Am I being fruitful in the world?” God’s response is, “Yes, you are loved. Yes, you are important. For I created you and filled you with purpose to make a difference in the world and in eternity.” We are like the ugly duckling who feels out of place. We need to allow God to answer these questions so that we will understand who we are!
God tells us in the Bible that He loves us so much that He sent Jesus, His only begotten Son, to pay the price for our sin, and that by believing in Him we will have everlasting life (Jn. 3:16). He says “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, with lovingkindness I have drawn you” (Jer. 31:3b NKJV).
We hear of people around the world who have done great things in history—scientists who discovered life-preserving medicines and inventors who create life-changing machines—people who are making a difference. Yet, we consider ourselves just ordinary people. So, what is it that makes us important? We are important because God Himself designed us uniquely and purposefully to fulfill His plan for our future. The Lord tells us, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you” (Jer. 1:5a NKJV).
King David wrote in the book of Psalms, “For You have formed my inward parts; You have covered [or woven] me in my mother’s womb. I will praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made…My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret…Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book, they are all written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.” (Ps. 139:13–16 NKJV).
From the beginning, God has wanted us to be fruitful. In John chapter 15, Jesus speaks about being fruitful with fruit that remains—answering the question about why we are here on earth and how to live.
Jesus is our example of abiding in God and being fruitful. The word abide simply means “to stay, remain or continue in one place.” The result of abiding in intimacy with Jesus and the Holy Spirit is communing as Jesus did with the Father. We are created to love Jesus and the Father in close relationship and in fellowship. Jesus tells us, “For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak” (Jn. 12:49–50 NKJV).
Our example is to follow Him. Like Jesus’ mother, Mary, said to the servants at the wedding in Cana of Galilea, “Whatever He says to you, do it” (Jn. 2:5 NKJV).
The fruit that remains is determined by God. We judge things by human eyes and may consider what we do as insignificant. However, doing what God tells us to do is what is important. Jesus tells us in John chapter 10 that He is the Good Shepherd, stating “The sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice” (Jn. 10:3–4 NKJV). To become one of His sheep, we must know that we have sinned and that we are justified by His grace through faith in the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Jesus said we would do greater works than He did. He also told us that as we love God with all our hearts, love one another, and love ourselves (Lk. 10:27), that His Word will be seed in the hearts of men causing them to repent, cease from their own works, and do the Father’s works instead.
If this is your desire, repeat this prayer out loud:
Heavenly Father, I desire to abide in Your presence and to be fruitful. I want to fulfill Your purpose for which I am created. Thank You for loving me while I was still a sinner. I believe Your Son, Jesus, paid the price for my sin to save and redeem me. Lead me, guide me, and teach me. I want Your peace and joy. Keep my heart and mind in agreement with Your thoughts, Lord. Give me boldness to do the right things and to share the Good News of the gospel. Keep my heart humble before You that I may hunger and thirst after righteousness. I love You and thank You for loving me. In Jesusí name. Amen
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