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During a recent discussion with an Apostle in Germany he told of an event that happened at the time when the Berlin Wall was in place and feelings against those on each side had been stirred up, which certainly highlighted our text. If we think about this event, I am sure we can all relate it to events in our own lives.

Some zealous people from East Germany came through the gate in the wall in a dump truck and dumped a load of garbage on the west side of the wall. The people on that side became angry and gathered together to work out a way to return the favour. We can only imagine some of the suggestions put forward. Fortunately, a Priest who lived there came up with a better idea which was agreed upon. They filled a truck with canned goods, medicine, clothes and other non-perishable items and took it over to the East side and stacked it up neatly beside the wall. They then put a sign on it which read “Each gives what he has to give.”

We see they were saying if garbage is what you’ve got, garbage is what you will give, but if love is what you have, then love is what you will give. This act highlighted our text because as the people were reminded of Christs’ teaching as the true vine it became easy for them to see their obligation to bring forth fruit. God’s purpose for us is that our fruit should remain long after we are gone. We can see that this is the case in this event as so many years after the people still speak of it.

The Apostle Paul reminds us of this fruit in Galatians 5: 22 — 26 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.”

These virtues must always come from God’s Spirit, they are not part of man’s nature that is why we must always as the text shows us, to ask for the guidance of this Spirit daily. “Ask of the Father in my name so that it can be given unto us.” Our Lord said this fruit has to be purged, that is to take away the human element to make it chosen of God.

The bible teaches us if we are to be fruitful then we should give the first part of our blessings back to God. The first part of the day we should give thanks for life; the first day of the week, should be full of thanks for the Grace freely given, the first portion of our blessings should be considered in our free will offerings, the first consideration in every decision we make, the first place in our lives. Matthew 6: 33 “But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and his righteousness and all things shall be added unto you.”