Survival of the fittest

Survival of the fittest
JOHN 15:1-17

(Introduction to the Bible/Reflection Paper/Submitted on July 23, 2009)

Remain in the vine (or in me)… remain in my words… remain in my love. Is this a pattern? For what? I am trying to figure out if these commands could point me into one thing. I couldn’t think of ways how am I going to progress in connecting these “remain” imperatives together. Until I see a progressive connection they resemble. Bear fruit (of the Spirit)… bear much fruit (to be his disciple)… bear fruit that will last (to be a disciple that disciples).

In his book The Principles of Biology (1864), Herbert Spencer implied “survival of the fittest” as the multiplication of the ‘fittest’, which he referred to those animals which are the most suited to their environment, i.e. those which are best fitted to survive. In conjunction, a disciple must be “fit to survive” (someone that multiplies). On the contrary, a disciple’s survival (or multiplication) must be dependent to Jesus, not striving on his own. In order to multiply a disciple, someone must be identified with Jesus as his disciple who bears the fruit of the Spirit. Yet only those who have entered a relationship with him had he given the fruit of the Spirit to them. In essence, the fruits of the Spirit are not those that we can produce ourselves but are those that God graciously gives as we are completely relying on him. This is the true disciple of Jesus, the one that glorifies his Father. Furthermore, he desires us to have a loving heart of Jesus. But this won’t move on if we don’t have the fruit of the spirit… love (Gal. 5:22). And a true disciple of Christ knows how to love and continuously loves people. Our love for other people will give us a passion for them. Our passion is to disciple them too and it will pass on from generation to generation. This is the only thing that will survive. This is our fruit that will last.