God has us here to make disciples who are equipped to face the challenges of life in faith. We are given a picture of this kind of life in Jeremiah 17:8 -
They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.
From this, we see...
1. They LIVE ROOTED in Jesus. They don’t just believe in their head or feel faith in their heart. They embrace a new and active way of living life, taking their cues from Jesus.
2. They BRANCH OUT, growing in Jesus. Jesus meets them where they are at, but they are changed as they follow Jesus. They grow into the person God created them to be.
3. They BEAR FRUIT for Jesus. The goal of discipleship goes beyond Bible knowledge and good behavior. Disciples pursue God working through them so they can help others LIVE ROOTED in Jesus, BRANCH OUT, growing in Jesus, and BEAR FRUIT for Jesus.
This invitation (and definition) didn’t just apply to those first disciples. It extends to us as well. This is our God given mission!
