Be Fruitful and Multiply
As we begin this New Year we can be encouraged that our Lord, from the beginning of creation called us to be fruitful and multiply.
In the book of beginnings, Genesis, he commanded the animals be fruitful and multiply.
Genesis 1:21-23New American Standard Bible 21 God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarmed after their kind, and every winged bird after its kind; and God saw that it was good. 22 God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” 23 There was evening and there was morning, a fifth day.
He commanded man to be fruitful and multiply.
Genesis 1:28New American Standard Bible 28 God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the [a]sky and over every living thing that [b]moves on the earth.”
Even after the flood and with only Noah and his family surviving, they were called to be fruitful and multiply.
Genesis 8:16-18 New American Standard Bible 16 “Go out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and your sons’ wives with you. 17 Bring out with you every living thing of all flesh that is with you, birds and animals and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, that they may [a]breed abundantly on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth.” 18 So Noah went out, and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives with him.
When Abraham was called to be the father of nations, God was going to make him exceedingly fruitful.
Genesis 17:5-7 New American Standard Bible 5 “No longer shall your name be called Abram, But your name shall be Abraham; For I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings will come forth from you. 7 I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you.
Even in the New Testament Jesus calls to be fruit bearers. And not simply some fruit, but much fruit!
John 15:7-9 New American Standard Bible 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. 9 Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.
And finally, the fruit that is produced would remain.
John 15:15-17 New American Standard Bible 15 No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. 17 This I command you, that you love one another.
As we can see from these few Bible verses, God wants our lives to be productive, progressive and powerful to have a permanent impact for the kingdom of God.
My prayer is that you begin this year, with roots that grows deep and fruit that grows large, so that you are blessed and are a blessing to many. A life that glorifies God, and is for the good of many.
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