Jesus paid for your freedom with His own life. You were set free at a great cost and for a great purpose. What is this purpose? We are to bear fruit which causes others to glorify God. The world all around us is in desperate need of Jesus, but many of them don’t even know who He is. He made us free so that we could attract others to the Father through Him.
In Genesis 3:6, we learn that “the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, [so] she took of its fruit and ate.” We are attracted to what is good, pleasant, and desirable. The world needs Jesus, but He cannot help them unless they draw them near to Him. We must attract the world to God, and we attract them by living as a godly example among them.
When people see our good works, it will attract them to God. Jesus says in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” He adds in John 15:8, “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit.” Jesus wants us fruitful so people will glorify the Father.
What kind of fruit should we bear? Every person has a unique assignment and different gifts, so it will look a little different from person to person. However, Galatians 5:22-23 says “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, [and] self-control.” If Jesus has set us free, the Holy Spirit will produce these characteristics in our lives.
Think about the people in your life. Do they want love? Joy? Peace? Patience? Do they value kindness in others? Goodness? Faithfulness? Gentleness? And who hasn’t marveled at someone who can truly control themselves in a seemingly impossible situation? People are attracted to the fruits of the Spirit. As you exhibit them, they will be drawn to you, to Jesus through you, and to the Father through Jesus.
So understand that you were set free for a purpose. As you enjoy your freedom, consider how well you are fulfilling that purpose. Does the world glorify God when they look at your life? What do they see? Are you being fruitful? Are you living life to the fullest? John 10:10 says that Jesus came to give us life more abundantly. Is that evident in your life? This is the reason Jesus paid so dearly for your freedom. The world needs to see you living differently than they are. Understand the value of your God-given liberty and choose to live each day to the fullest, never again returning to the spiritual bondage from which you were delivered. You are free for a purpose!
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