“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” John 15:16 KJV
I walked into Rev. Shysheika Edwards’ office at Christina Cultural Arts Center and said, “I just want to be effective.” That statement must have struck a cord with her that particular day because she stopped what she was involved in and praised God with me.
It’s been my prayer for the past couple of weeks since then – “Lord, I want to be effective.” You see, I’ve felt like I’ve been “spinning my wheels” lately attempting to create, assist, and help in numerous ways with no “traction.” At work and personally it’s been rough. I questioned whether decisions I made are impactful. I’ve wondered if what i say is impactful. I’ve questioned if what I write makes a difference.
What I am starting to recognize – what God has chosen and ordained me to do- I am directed to “go forth.” That means do it and the results will not only be positive, but continue to be a blessing. That’s effective – seen or unseen by me. If God directed you to do it- effectiveness is guaranteed!
Why? Because you were created by God to be a blessing. You were created to do “good works.” That fact is each of our individual purpose. Well here’s an additional scripture I gained from my sorority chapter’s prayer call. It sealed this thought process for me…
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10 KJV
Let me attempt to give a real life example:
When you go in the kitchen to cook, you are creating/cooking feed others. You rarely take the time to cook to then just stare at what you produced. You want to share what you created. You want it to be enjoyed and savored. You want it to be helpful and beneficial to others bodies. Well, just like when you cook, God wants all the gifts and talents He created in you to be shared. Through scripture He has assured us if we “go forth,” we will be effective.
Now my question is – Are you producing fruit?
Any task God assigns you usually has cursory benefit for you and more impact on others. When we bear fruit and it remains, it usually deals with the people around you. No, this is not about your own health, shelter or prosperity. Effectiveness is about others…
Are your actions producing in others the fruit in described in Galatians 5? “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 KJV
What is the result of you sharing? What is being left after the interaction? I caution that there are times we will not know. What we can stand in confidence – if we’re executing what the Lord has led us to do it will be fruitful.
What I love 💕 most in the initial scripture- it’s the realization that I don’t have to worry about being effective and bearing fruit – that’s God’s job! He promised! I only need to recognize God chose and ordained me, stay focused and I will bear fruit which will have staying power. I WILL BE EFFECTIVE! We can walk in what He has asked us to do because HE has granted us that power.
Here’s more reassurance!
“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”
Ephesians 3:20-21 KJV
With confidence know you’re effective if you are going forth and blessing in God’s strength.
lifeandgodliness 