When we give our yes to the Lord and uproot everything we have ever known to obey Him, no matter where in the world that takes us, our hearts long to see change happen in Christ’s name. Of course our goal is to see Jesus glorified wherever we land. Oftentimes, though, it can be easy to start striving for spiritual results over the righteousness found in abiding in Him first. 

Our own prayer life might fall to the wayside because there is so much to do. 

We focus less on our own temperaments with our husbands, children, co-workers, or friends because we’ve spent so much energy “out there” doing the real work. 

Our character starts to slip, but we don’t take the time to look at the root issues because we are seeing so many good things happening through our work. 

So when we enter seasons of rocky ground, of ministry disappointments, or of hardship in our own lives, we can then wonder—what is the point here? If I’m not accomplishing something tangible for the sake of the kingdom, that time may start to feel like a failure. Like a waste. 

Yet there is a kind of fruit that may not always be tangible or one we can necessarily put in a newsletter, but it is one with which Peter begins his letter reminding believers about. He shares that God’s divine power has given us everything we need to participate in His divine nature (2 Peter 1:3-4). This divine nature is what produces in us the kind of fruit that comes from fighting for our Savior’s goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection, and finally, love. Peter then finishes this introduction by saying that possessing these qualities will keep us from being ineffective and unproductive in our faith. 

Can we first and foremost fight for intimacy with Christ, which will inevitably create in us these qualities, which will then overflow and be poured out on the world around us? 

I believe that is when we will see deep, long-lasting fruit, both in us, and in our own spheres of influence. God, help us to make you in us our priority.