The Father's Menu

Apostle Dr. Richard Udoh

Tuesday, April 16, 2019

BEAR AND SHOW THE FRUIT

“And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred”
Mark 4:8
Main Text:

Duke Ludovinco of Milan asked Leonardo da Vicni, 43, to paint the dramatic scene of Jesus’ Last Supper with His disciples. Enthusiastically, Vinci embarked on the project, giving meticulous details to the scene. Three years later, he grouped the disciples into threes, two groups on either side of Jesus, the central figure, with outstretched arms. In his right hand, Jesus held a cup which was beautifully painted. Da Vinci called a friend of his to evaluate the masterpiece, who exclaimed: “It’s wonderful. The cup is so real I cannot divert my eyes form it.’ Vinci, who was not comfortable that it was the cup and not Jesus that his friend appreciated most, immediately took a brush and drew it across the sparkling cup. The artist exclaimed as he did so: “Nothing shall detract from the figure of Christ.”

The Christian race is a serious business which must never compromise the centrality of Christ. Christians are always conscious to live out the fruits of righteousness; love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, among others.

The parable in our text did not evaluate the sower, who is the preacher of the gospel, or the seed, but it evaluated the soul, which is the heart of men. The seeds on the road are those who, after hearing the word, allow the devil to take it away from their heart. Those on the rock are they who only received the word with joy and shallow-minds. The seeds which fell among the thorns are those who, after they have heard the word and gone way, are choked with the cares, riches and pleasures of this life.

The seeds on the good ground are the people with a honest and good heart, who, having heard the word, will hold on tenaciously to it, bringing forth fruits of righteousness with patience. So, let us produce the fruit of righteousness in all we do.

Prayer: I will live to bear good fruit for you O Lord

Further Reading: Mark 4:1-9

Read through the Bible: Leviticus 20 & Psalm 25