Brian E. Kushner / stock.adobe.com

Punxsutawney Phil did NOT see his shadow yesterday morning. Good news! Spring is on the way. Well, it is, but more than likely not as quickly as we hope or Punxsutawney Phil predicts. Sadly, he doesn’t have a strong track record of being accurate.

Christians called to “Write His Answer” also are likely to have to wait far longer than we would like for the acceptance of our manuscripts and to see our book(s) in print. More often than not we will receive the dreaded rejection slip or no response at all.

But stop and consider what’s most important. Is it getting our name in print, especially on the cover of a book, or the journey of how we get there? Are our lives, not just our words, bearing fruit?

Bearing Fruit

A Bible Study Based on John 15:1-5; Colossians 2:7; Galatians 5:22-23; Jeremiah 17:7-8

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus . . .
Hebrews 12:2 NIV

LOVE – He loved me and gave himself for me (Gal. 2:20 NIV).

• Do I love my readers?
• Is love my motivating force?
• How much of myself do I give them?
• What about loving my editors, especially the ones who reject my manuscript?
• Loving people who make demands on my time, who take me from my work?

JOY – For the joy set before him [Jesus] endured the cross (Heb. 12:2 NIV).

• Is my joy dependent on acceptances, praise, success?
• Do I rejoice in taking up my cross (Mk. 8:34-35), or look for easier ways to serve the Lord?

PEACE –  “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you” (Jn. 14:27 NIV).
We never see Jesus uptight even when demands on him were so great that “he couldn’t even find time to eat” (Mk. 3:20 TLB). See also Colossians 3:15.

• Do I have his peace when I’m interrupted?
• When I’m facing a deadline or blank computer screen?
• When doors do not open for my work?

PATIENCE – Think about his patience as sinful men did such terrible things to him (Heb. 12:3 TLB); his patience on the night he was betrayed when even his disciples  did not yet understand who he was (see Jn. 14:4-11).

• Am I learning to wait patiently on the Lord?
• How patient am I with editors, family members, myself?

KINDNESS – Because of his kindness you have been saved (Eph. 2:8 TLB).

• Do people (editors, family, friends) see Christ in me?
• Am I gracious?

GOODNESS – He went around doing good  (Acts 10:38 TLB).
Greek – agathos describes that which “being good in its character . . . is beneficial in its effect.”*

• Is my writing benefiting my readers?
• How can I “do good” with my writing?

FAITHFULNESS – He has enriched us, gifted us, strengthened us, called us, and is faithful (see 1 Cor. 1:5-9).

• Am I being faithful to him?
• Am I using the gifts he has given me?

GENTLENESS – “I am gentle and humble” (Mt. 11:29 TLB).
Greek – meekness, prautes: closely linked with humility, a fruit of power not weakness,not fighting against God, the opposite of self-assertiveness and self-interest.*

• Have I argued with the Lord lately?
• Am I on an ego trip?

SELF CONTROL – Jesus responded. He did not react. He was always in control of his feelings, words, actions (see Mk. 3).

• How much self-control did I exercise the last time something or someone irritated me?
• What about my self-discipline?
• Do I daily relinquish control of my life to the Lord?

*From Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words.

Examine and test and evaluate your own selves
to see whether you are holding to your faith
and showing the proper fruits of it.

2 Corinthians 13:5 AMP

Online registration is open for the Colorado conference
http://colorado.writehisanswer.com

About half of the faculty is in place for the Philly conference
Registration will open April 1
http://philadelphia.writehisanswer.com