Fruit That Lasts

July 2021

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.

John 15:16

As I awoke one morning, the Holy Spirit seemed to bring to my heart and mind the words, “Fruit that lasts.” I have to spiritually fight to focus on bearing good fruit, to avoid being distracted, dissipated, and entangled by the things of this world. I’m sorry to confess that I am often a sucker for the secular. But my friend, Abe from Church, now in heaven, bore good fruit—as a pioneer of radio, television and satellite ministry in Africa. He once stated, “Our sunset years are good, filled with happy family times and the fruits of a lifetime of work. It is also a time of remembrance and reflection. We have good memories and we try to share with the young generations what we have learned. We strongly encourage them to walk with God, for that is the only pathway of blessing.” [Credit: Abe Thiessen, A Media Pioneer, pg. 318]

Within the context of the vine and branches, God wants us to bear good fruit, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.” (John 15:16) Not only does God want us to bear good fruit, He wants us to be even more fruitful, so He prunes us. “He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” (John 15:2) The Greek origin word for prunes here is Kathairo, (pronounced Kath-ah’-ee-ro) meaning to cleanse. This includes to make clean by purging (removing undesirable elements), eliminating what is fruitless by purifying (making unmixed). It’s a hard teaching, but it is clear that I can’t bear good fruit that lasts unless God cleanses me. Isn’t it exciting that God can bear good fruit even through us, whether we have a skateboard ministry, cookie ministry (like me) or a worldwide ministry perhaps like you! And not only that, John reveals to us that God even multiplies our single seed to produce many seeds, if we die to self. (John 12:24)

I crossed paths with an elderly lady shortly after starting out for a walk on the trail. I said, “Hello,” and she quickly and kindly responded. As we crossed paths again coming back in the opposite direction, she initiated the gesture by saying, “Hello again!” When she spoke, I walked past a few feet, thought about her response, and felt convicted to keep the conversation alive, so I looked back, but she was getting farther away by the second. I had gotten warm on the walk and took my hooded sweatshirt off, which had a pocket containing my gospel handouts, but I had wrapped it around my waist, so I fumbled for one but couldn’t retrieve it quickly. I looked to see her progress, and told God if she stopped at the bench by the stream, I’d turn back, catch up, and see if she was open to reengaging in a spiritual conversation. Unfortunately she turned near the bench and continued down a hill and out of sight. Another fruitless gospel non-encounter. I had not prayed shortly before heading out on the trail, so it’s no wonder that no fruit emerged. I missed the opportunity to let her know that the prince of this world had been overcome by the Prince of Peace, Jesus the Christ.

As hot weather emerged, I was enjoying quiet time with the Lord, but thought I’d better water a few hot spots on the lawn before they burned up in our semi-arid sun of early summer. A man walking on the sidewalk across the street came across and struck up a conversation, inquiring about our new garage door. His name was Tom, a neighbor from about a block away, whose wife had died so we had some things in common. He seemed to be a very kind and considerate man. I hope God allows our paths to cross again soon, as I ask God to keep this door of ministry open, so that His fruit can grow through Tom’s life. The previous day in the grocery store, I greeted Diondre, who had a warm smile. I gifted him with the Gospel, and he smiled even more! And when I told Jenny on the telephone that Jesus loved her greatly, she said, “Thank you. I know that. Thank you. Have a nice evening!”

Finally after months of waiting on the Lord, the opportunity came, but not in a way I expected! I looked out the window at the house next door that was being flipped. The black Jeep pickup had backed up and was tightly squeezed in on the grass between the big dumpster roll away, and a beautiful tree, which frustrated me. But God quickly made it clear that His purposes transcended my Earthly concerns, as the truck rested on grass I was trying to keep alive as a gesture of kindness for the new owner, Ash, an  Iranian Muslim, who would put it on the market the following week. He showed me all the upgrades and I told him I hoped he could earn a profit after all the money and work he invested in it. “If I don’t get $800,000 out of it, it will be hard to break even—everything doesn’t always work out sweet,” he said to me. But I’m hoping the sweet aroma and fragrance of Christ will bear good fruit, as God allowed us to have several brief conversations over the months. A few times I brought homemade mint chocolate chip cookies to some of his workers, as a witness and to keep any tension from building in the relationship during the construction mess that was an eyesore to the neighborhood—yet better than the neglected condition of the house from the previous owner. I’m praying for his salvation, and hope to follow up, sharing my testimony with Ash after giving him a copy of the book Jesus Joy, in which I wrote a note to him, and for which he kindly received with a smile on his face.

When the doorbell rang, my wife’s caregiver answered it and I overheard the reference to automated shutters, blinds, etc. I told the caregiver I couldn’t talk with him because of the eggs I cooked about a half hour before, still uneaten. But the Holy Spirit seemed to convict me, so I grabbed a gospel handout, went outside and met Trevor, speaking briefly with him. He didn’t get a sale, but he received the Gospel, of infinitely more value. Then sadly right after that brief encounter, I received an email from the Pastor that teaches our Men’s Bible Study, with the title, Tragic Announcement. The unexpected death of one of our regular Bible Study attenders, Gary, who was a kind, gentle, soft-spoken believer, was a shocking reminder to me that I am accountable to share Christ not with some or most, but all the people God shows me. Fighting back tears, I told Anita, my wife’s caregiver. She responded, “When it’s your turn, you gotta go. When it happens, it always stinks.” I’m so thankful that Jesus defeated death through His shed blood on the cross for me, for you, and for those unsaved we see everyday. If they are not saved, we can give them the great news that they do not have to remain dead in their sin—they can become alive in Christ, with a true purpose, and bear good fruit that lasts—eternal hope, not just temporal, false hope.

My biological brother, Pastor Bruce, shared with me a story that to me demonstrates an example of how God can bear good fruit that lasts, even through human sadness. At the funeral service for Jerry, the older brother of a younger man named Tim, who had lived away from his brother due to unreconciled family issues, shared good news during open microphone time. During the 3-year time period leading up to Jerry’s death, Tim had time to work through these issues with Jerry, leading to brotherly resolution and restoration, prior to losing his brother. I’m so thankful for the relational, reconciling ministry of Jesus.

Young Pastor Phil, whom I often pray for at Church, sent me an unexpected email, stating, “…I wanted to reach out about a car for Caelan R. Hers just died and doesn’t have a ton of money to get a new one. Any deals or car hook ups that you know of at the moment that I could refer her to?” This request to help her began to shed an unfortunate light on my human sin condition, shallow growth in relationship with the Lord, and my lack of spiritual fruit in witnessing to the lost. I was convicted about my lack of justice, kindness and humility (Micah 6:8) as I started reaching out to believers and unbelievers alike for help tracking down a used car for Caelan. Through prayer, human effort and unpredictable rabbit trails, many ideas emerged ranging from giving her our car and buying another one; a fund raiser; or a loaner car for 1-2 months. I called family, friends, neighbors, brothers in Christ. “Doesn’t someone feel led to step up?” I thought. Ryan did. He found a used Cadillac for a fair price, but she being young, didn’t want a Cadillac; she wanted a Honda or Toyota, which seemed to strike a chord of perplexity in me! A neighbor had an old Jeep with 225,000 miles that hadn’t run in 6 years. “Would you consider allowing me to take it to my mechanic, fix it up at my expense and gift it to her?” I asked. He would not agree to this, about which I had a bad attitude. In talking with people, numerous avenues to explore further emerged, including two Christian and one non-Christian auto repair shops which get involved in helping widows and others with cars they may not be able to afford. Other ideas included a T.V. channel potential fund raiser from previous known events, along with numerous leads to check out. After spinning my wheels for about two weeks struggling to come up with a car, God did what was impossible for me, delivering a 25 year old car in perfect operating condition to Caelan at a very low price, in a seemingly miraculous way. [A few years before I saw God deliver a car to a needy Seminary student through a non-cost donation!] I just sat in my car and praised God—with Whom all things are possible. I was so excited when I met the owner of the car, Christine, as she showed me around the vehicle. One of the first things I noticed was a Christian fish symbol (ichthus), which had meaning to the early church, and still holds meaning for Christians today. Christine was willing to sell it very inexpensively, since it was going to be an anonymous God gift to the oldest daughter of a young mother of six, who just died. This was despite the fact that the car was her Dad’s, and she used to call it by the name Theona, so it was an emotional process for her to release it. Before God interceded, I was feeling a little sorry for myself, until I realized that it was not a problem for Him. My spiritual brother Ryan days later left a message speaking about Caelan’s wonderful testimony of how her heart situation [comfort in the loss of her mother] was made better through the car.

Yet I confess that during the above process, trying to find Caelan a car, I felt a little like Mark, a former Marine reconnaissance sniper, and one of ten contestants on the Arctic survival show, Alone. A bear stole his fish cache, so his response was, “You steal my food—you turn into food! You just started a war.” And another contestant, Amós, monitored a pack of wolves slowly closing in all around his self-made shelter, as he knew they were sensing his fear. In like manner, it seems to me that Satan also senses my fear—fear of proclaiming Jesus as I go about my days. He is a master at inflicting his vicious accusations of gospel guilt. He still finds ways to influence me, but not so much if I am fully in fellowship with God, deeply embedded in His atoning Holiness. It makes me realize again how much I need God’s persistent presence, and encouragement from brothers and sisters in Christ, to bear gospel fruit. To me, my need for God and the body of Christ is metaphorically likened to a formula one Gran Prix race driver’s survival cell embedded into the car. The survival cell reminds me of the Holy Spirit, and the pit crew like the body of Christ. [No intended disrespect for behind-the scenes engineering staff]

My lack of Christ’s attitude and affection negatively affects the body of Christ, and that of the lost, with whom I am reaching out to bear fruit. I saw this again when I went to visit Dr. Mark S. in the hospital after he was hit by a car while riding his bike, breaking many bones. I was confronted with nothing but frustration at the hospital; some of my worst attributes bubbled up to the surface—unkindness, impatience, ingratitude, et. al. What I intended for Mark’s benefit, I believe God intended for mine. He keeps re-enrolling me in His Holy Spirit Humility 101 Course, through the wonderful presence of His covenant love for me, even when the growth is painful.

My wife experienced a saddening lack of reliable caregivers recently, so much so that we decided it would be better if we just took a short trip to the mountains to get away—and to God’s heart-joy blessings at a Christian retreat center and beautiful national park. One day as I mailed scenic postcards to family and friends, I offered gospel handouts to the two ladies working behind the Post Office counter. I asked if they would like to pass them on to people low on hope, and in context mentioned a caregiver’s daughter struggling with anxiety. One of the ladies quickly and emphatically challenged me, “I hope you’re praying for her,” humbling to me as I tried to encourage her to bear good fruit! And as we prepared to depart for home, God tripley blessed me by gifting copies of Jesus Joy in His perfect timing in just minutes, to Robin who was so helpful at the front desk of the main lodge, to Dan who helped with family lodging over many years, and to the library where I was blessed when Stan spoke of a devotional quote, “In order to have hope, you need faith.” [Author unknown] Perhaps we can fruitfully encourage nonbelievers with these wisdom words.

But is it worth it? Some believers may wonder if it is worth taking risks to proclaim the Gospel. It was worth it to Canadian singer Nikki White when she heard the Gospel, stating on stage as she was about to sing I Can Only Imagine, “I recently discovered tha-tah, I’m more than a chick singer—took me a long time. But tha-tah, I’m a child of God, and um, the reason I say that is because for so many years my identity was being on stage. I love what I do, but I’m not sure that I loved who I was. But then one day I woke up and realized um, I didn’t have to worry—Somebody loved me!” [Jesus] Now she is bearing good fruit that will last, not ashamed of the Gospel. And missionary Br. D. is a fruit bearer in a hostile environment, stating, “Many from this area understand that their faith in Christ is who they are, it is not just their religion, it is their life.” [Credit: Confidential missionary newsletter, June 2021]

Even though God grants me great joy in proclaiming the Gospel, sometimes I don’t fully rejoice—but why? I’ve never been dragged, stripped, beaten, flogged and thrown into a prison inner cell with my feet fastened in stocks, for preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ like the Apostle Paul, yet he continued to rejoice, (Acts 16:16-40) bearing good fruit that lasts. “The joy that Jesus offers his disciples is his own joy, which flows from his intimate communion with the One who sent him. It is a joy that does not separate happy days from sad days, successful moments from moments of failure, experiences of honor from experiences of dishonor, passion from resurrection. This joy is a divine gift that does not leave us during times of illness, poverty, oppression, or persecution. It is present even when the world laughs or tortures, robs or maims, fights or kills. It is truly ecstatic, always moving us away from the house of fear into the house of love, and always proclaiming that death no longer has the final say, though its noise remains loud and its devastation visible. The joy of Jesus lifts up life to be celebrated.” [Credit: Henri Nouwen, Joy Flows From Communion With God]

My neighbor, Greg, is a young college-bound student preparing to major in entrepreneurship in the school of business. He has been helping me with house and landscaping projects, but was in tears as we talked about God. He does not consider himself religious, nor does he go to Church. But God seems to be pulling on his heart strings, and entering his thought processes more and more. He has been asking numerous questions such as how best to network in starting his own company, but also questions in the spiritual realm, generally along the lines of life purpose, desiring to make the Earth a better place, especially through regenerative farming. Maybe one day, Greg will bear spiritual fruit in addition to agricultural fruit. I listened as he spoke to the beauty of the mountains. When I mentioned that the beauty of creation points to The Creator, it seemed clear that this correlation had not occurred to him. I hope to tell him about the documentary my wife and I watched, showing a beautiful newborn fawn, giving me a small glimpse of God’s wonderful spiritual metaphors He grants us. Spring was emerging high in the Rocky Mountains, and grizzlies were just coming out of hibernation, very hungry. After the frost and before the Spring grasses disappear, the primary way the doe can perfectly protect her fawn is to leave her at night, bedded down in the lush valley, after cleansing her so there is virtually no scent for the bear to smell. In the morning, the Mother returns, taking her baby and returning to the herd and the mountains. Perhaps this unmistakable metaphoric picture of the hand of God may touch Greg’s heart so his mind can understand—just as music often does. As I pray, hopefully this may result in Gospel fruit, as God’s Holy Word and Holy Spirit lead, so that one day salvation will come to Greg. I can relate to where he is spiritually, because I see my own slow progression from futility to faith.

One evening I headed out onto the trail for a long walk to the pond. I noticed up ahead two people on a bench by the pond, talking with another person. I prepared in prayer and organized my access to gospel handouts, so I would be ready if God opened a ministry door. To my amazement, I met Bill and Debbie, engaging in a delightful conversation for about half an hour. As we were about to go our separate ways, I thanked Bill for the unexpected blessing of meeting them, and asked if I might bless him—he graciously said yes, as he received God’s Word, which I pray he will fruitfully read. They had lots of money, traveled the world, but perhaps didn’t have Jesus in their heart, without Whom life is ultimately futile.

As believers, we can be encouraged in bearing good fruit of the Gospel, because people always need hope. Even if it’s only a glimmer of hope. It may start out as physical hope, perhaps healing, relational hope, or even as simple as the hope of wolves returning after nearly being wiped out by hunting, trapping and government extermination campaigns. To student Story Warren, “…the return of the wolf is about more than the species, it is about recovering something even bigger: hope.” [Credit: Lynda V. Mapes, Welcome Back, p. 26, Pacific NW magazine, May 23, 2021] And isn’t it fitting that we have the hope of bearing good spiritual fruit even in grocery stores, where there is an abundance of physical fruit! I noticed a lady who had just finished receiving help with her curbside grocery pickup, as I headed toward the store, approaching her large, white SUV. There were many decals on her side window, but when I walked past the back of the car, there was only one—“Jesus” in white script letters on the large dark tinted rear window. I was so thankful when I saw it, I walked back to her closed, passenger side window. She opened the window, so I could thank her. I was delightfully surprised that her name was Niki, just like my beautiful daughter-in-law by the same name, both kind and loving. I told her that, then offered her a gospel handout to give to someone low on hope, for which she, with a radiant, Godly smile kindly thanked me. It was such a wonderful brief encounter to meet an evangelistic sister in Christ. And there’s hope for me when I guardedly place gospel handouts in men’s restroom stalls; as I hesitantly post a gospel handout on the hallway cork board; when I respond to a woman’s smile without thinking by saying, “You have a nice God-smile.” “What does that mean?” she asked, seemingly cynical as well as inquisitive. “It means if you have Jesus in your heart, you radiate the love of Christ,” I said—perhaps we both went away pondering, as I stumble toward Glory. [Credit: Pastor unknown] If I am prepared in my spirit, prayed up and attached to the Vine, [Paraphrased credit: Pastor Rudy Antle] I can have hope when I am shielded from the cashier by a large, clear plexiglass plate, yet desiring to share Christ; or when I am right down to the one-second difference between giving or not being able to give the gospel message to Dallen as he quickly stacked my groceries in the cart, ready to jump to the next customer; or retracing my steps back to Mary Joy, who hadn’t sold an air conditioner all day when it was 100 degrees outside, encouraging her with the Gospel; or Derek as he waited on me at the cash register. He was kind, considerate and helpful. As he handed me the receipt, I exchanged it with a red heart/cross gospel handout. He looked at it, looked up at me and stared at me, saying nothing, but as if to say “WHAT” in disbelief of what he just received. Before I could say anything, a fellow employee came up and started talking with him, so I departed—a strange encounter, like an interrobang, combining a question mark with an exclamation mark‽  [Credit: Pastor Rudy Antle] I pray that Derek would read God’s Word. And Charity, with a radiant smile and personality, graciously received the gospel message, for which I was so thankful, after I apologized for my grocery cart being in her way in the greeting card section of the store. I believe God had a specific fruit-bearing purpose as we crossed paths. I asked her to please remind me if the word charity in the Bible meant mercy—she was quick to point out that it meant love. Seemingly, she knows her Bible. I pray that if she is not saved, God will draw her to follow Jesus as a righteous fisher of men and women, winning souls, a disciple for Christ. (Proverbs 11:30, Matthew 4:19, 1 Corinthians 9:22) A woman named Marilyn approached the produce section where I was looking for organic avocados, looking very serious, so I commented on that. She said she was on a mission, so I put a Gospel handout in her grocery cart so as not to slow her down, then she smiled, and I told her the good news that Jesus loved her. She kindly accepted and was grateful. I saw her again in the store and thanked her for her nice smile. She smiled again and said, “Thanks for the card—I really appreciate it.” Then at self-checkout, I waited a few seconds before departing, making sure the monitoring checkout clerk had her back to me, so I could drop a gospel handout on the shelf as a leave-behind gift for a subsequent customer. On another occasion in the grocery store parking lot, a man was putting groceries in the back of his car. “May I give you a gift for your daughter?” I asked. He looked at it and said, “Thank you,” for the gospel handout.

I told an investment advisor, Rado, on the phone that Jesus loves him greatly. “I need a little bit more luck. If you could send me a little bit more luck my way,” he responded. I was blessed to let him know that Jesus goes far beyond luck! When he called back, we had a good laugh together and he told me about his family. I pray that God will exchange our brief conversation with the truth of His love. God, please grant us willing spirits to sustain us, so we can dignify Your creation, [no one is a “throw-away person”] as we desire to bear good fruit, blessing the lost, who need rest for their souls with the Gospel gift—the greatest gift—Jesus Himself. May we offer our first fruits, sacrificing the best we have as You lead us in Your work. Help me to gently, tenderly and lovingly reach out and proclaim Jesus to those with troubled hearts, since we are all subject to weakness. Hebrews 5:2

While walking on the trail near my home, I greeted Michelle, who quickly and joyfully commented about how great it was to talk with people again coming out of Covid. I offered her the blessing of a gospel handout. “Yah, why not,” she reluctantly responded, and received. I prayed that she would read God’s Word and that her “Yah, why not,” would be transformed by God into a “Yes,” to Jesus. Then as I arrived home from the walk, a young man named Ken was at the door, wanting to sell plant-based weed control services. I offered him a Gospel handout and he responded, “Thanks for the blessing.” At a sleep clinic appointment for my wife, Barbie, I told Elma that Jesus loves her greatly. “He loves you too, and He loves me. I love Jesus,” she joyfully responded. This greatly encouraged me. While speaking with a customer service representative, Brittany, I told her that Jesus loves her greatly. “Listen, He loves you too!” she quickly replied. I asked how I could pray for her—“Pray for finances,” she said, which I did as soon as I hung up the phone. After speaking with another customer service person, Tyler, I told him Jesus loves him. “I appreciate that, sir,” he immediately said. May God bear gospel fruit through my feeble outreach effort. And when I told Bryan about Jesus’ love for him, he responded, “Amen.” I asked a close friend and brother in Christ, Ryan, how I could pray for him. “Unwavering integrity in the Word of God,” he answered. God used Ryan to encourage me.

My wife was embarrassed that our carpet was so dirty, so I scheduled a cleaning through Currie, the office assistant. I told her the good news that Jesus loves her greatly—she thanked me but was quick to change the subject! I’ve gotten to know our carpet cleaning specialist, Mike, so we enjoy our brief conversations when short breaks occur during his work. He was celebrating Cinco de Mayo, so he told me a little about that, even though he is three quarters Navajo. I asked if he was a good investor, and he said most of his money is in a Harley Davidson, a big truck and a few cattle on a ranch his Dad owns. As he was about to leave, I gave him a copy of Jesus Joy, and asked what he would write about if he were writing a book. “How to learn the lessons we need to learn before we are too old to learn them,” he responded! I hope Jesus turns Mike into a fruit-bearing vessel.

I enjoy car racing as an enthusiast, ranging from top fuel dragsters to formula one Gran Prix racing, along with hot rods and sports cars as well. A Pastor friend told me about his drag race buddy and hot rod builder, Wade, who said, “I have an increasing intolerance for stupid people.” He told my friend about a picture he took of fire flames—that he could see the face of a demon in it. It really impacted him. The Pastor had faith conversations for 30 years with him, but this time Wade seemed a little more open to it, perhaps due to some serious health concerns. “I’m not going to church,” he said. The Pastor responded, “The Church has hurt a lot of people—pastors, preachers and priests have also, but Jesus will never hurt you. He will only do you good.” “I agree with that,” Wade said, as he walked away. This was his first positive response. May God strike a fruitful chord of harmony through us with the lost, as He bears good fruit that lasts eternally. As one missionary from a country where Christianity is prohibited stated, “Many from this area understand that their faith in Christ is who they are, it is not just their religion, it is their life.” [Credit: Confidential newsletter, pg. 1, June 2021]

Jesus Joy Blessings,
Dawid Melek