“And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.” 1 Thessalonians 2:13 ESV
Reflection: how can we know if the word of God has taken “root” in someone?
A couple of years ago, we planted several fruit trees on the south side of our house. We have peach, plum, cherry, apple and fig trees. And although they are still small, they have already started to produce some fruit. It is a joy to watch these little trees grow and produce even a few fruits, to help them by giving them food and water, as well as cutting off wild shoots. Last year, a couple of the trees didn’t make it, so they had to be replaced. I have also noticed this year, that a couple of other trees are growing a lot, consuming lots of water, but not producing anything. But, I hope it is temporary, perhaps it was the late frost we had that froze the early beginnings of buds and flowers. So I am hopeful that next year will be better.
Paul and his traveling companions came to Thessaloniki, to “plant” the word of God. We see this symbolism often used in the Bible, even by the Lord Himself, where trees generally are a parallel to people. And, we even use this thought today, of “planting” churches, which goes all the way back to the early church and spread of the gospel. And Paul reminded the Corinthians of what was his and others work, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.” 1 Corinthians 3:6 ESV. The growth only comes from God. And, in the focus verse today, we see the same idea presented, where Paul reminds the believers in Thessaloniki, “you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.” 1 Thessalonians 2:13 ESV
The word of God at work in the believers.
Now, what is this “work” God is doing through the word in all believers? Ultimately, just like the fruit trees, to produce fruit. What the Bible refers to as “good fruit”, and “fruit of the spirit”. Jesus reminded us of this parallel, or metaphor, in several ways. Let’s take a look, first as he spoke about the Pharisees at the time ““Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.” Matthew 12:33-35 ESV.
He also used the example of bearing fruit in a slightly different way. ““I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:1-5 ESV. What is interesting about this metaphor is the idea that all believers are together with Christ as “one tree”,
Jesus is the true vine.
And the good fruit produced, by God through us who are in Christ Jesus, “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 ESV. As Paul reminded the early Christians, this is not something that comes from us, from our own works. It is “the word of God, which is at work in you believers.” Are we letting the word of God “take root” in us so that we can produce good fruit? “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Galatians 5:16, 24 ESV. Let us be branches in Christ, producing fruit that God is well pleased with.
