Are you a fruit inspector or a fruit producer?
Tomorrow I will preach a message on John 15:5. In that text, Jesus said, "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." Jesus made it clear that the only way we can produce fruit as Christians is as a result of a close relationship with Jesus.
So, are you producing fruit as a Christian? There are two kinds we are capable of producing.
One is interior. This is referred to as the "fruit of the spirit." As the Holy Spirit works in us our lives give evidence of the fruit of the spirit.
The second is exterior. As we minister for Christ, as we live the Christian life, there is fruit that is a result of our labor.
So, are you producing fruit? Many Christians are not. There are thousands of people who are saved but aren't producing any fruit because their relationship with Christ is not what it should be. God wants us to produce fruit.
Unfortunately, many Christians are more prone to "fruit inspection" rather than "fruit production." "Fruit inspectors" are those who are always examining the fruit or lack of fruit in the lives of other Christians. The world is filled with fruit inspectors.
I encourage you to be a fruit producer for Jesus.

This morning I led a men's Bible study on Genesis 22. It's the story of Abraham being called to offer Isaac as a sacrifice. Abraham had been following God for years and God had promised Abraham a son. Isaac was born to Abraham and Sarai late in life.
Isaac is special to Abraham... just like our kids are special to us. And God knows that it's possible that Isaac has become more important to Abraham than he should. So, God tests Abraham. He instructs Abraham to take Isaac and offer him as a sacrifice.
Abraham, being obedient to God, takes Isaac and begins making his way toward Mt. Moriah. He binds Isaac and prepares to offer him as a sacrifice. Then, Abraham hears a voice "Abraham, Abraham."
Abraham is told that he has passed the test. Now God knew that Abraham loved God more than anything. God tells Abraham to direct his attention to a thicket. There, he he would find a ram that God had provided for the sacrifice. Abraham named the place "Jehovah Jireh" which means "the Lord will provide."
What's important to you? A lesson we can draw from this story is that we must be careful not to allow things or hobbies or even people to become more important to us than God. Is there something that's become more important to you than it should?

Last night, I watched the end of the movie "The Rookie." I guess I'm a cry baby because, I can watch that movie a million times and it gets me everytime. I like the scene where Jimmy Morris is sitting in a bar and he's about to give up baseball. About that time, he notices that the story that was filmed about him in practice is being shown on the television.
He then turns his attention to the show. As he is being interviewed he closes out by saying why he loves baseball. He talks about the bond between the players and the fans. Then he says, "it's a great game."
He is walking back to his hotel when he notices the lights on a baseball field. He walks over to it and sees little boys playing baseball. He remembers his dream.
As I watched that, my eyes filled with tears as I thought about my middle son, Will, is wrapping up his senior year of high school baseball. His season is half done. Right now, I'm trying to cling to every special moment I can.
Jimmy Morris was right; baseball is a great game. And, for years, Holli and I have experienced a lot of joy watching our kids play ball. Those are memories we will cherish.
Thank you, Lord for allowing me to be the dad of Robert, Will & Sarah Potts.

Easter Sunday was great at First Baptist Church, Dallas, Ga. (the church I pastor). And, if you attend a local church on a regular basis, I imagine it was good in your church as well. But, it normally is. There is an electricity in the air on Easter that isn’t present every Sunday. I wish it were like that every week and, honestly, it can be and should be.
Every Sunday is resurrection day. The early church gathered on the first day of the week to commemorate the resurrection. They had been accustomed to worshiping on Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath. But they gathered on Sunday because that was the day that Jesus rose. And still, 2,000 years later, Christians gather on Sunday to remember the resurrection.
But celebrating the resurrection means more than just gathering on the first day of the week. That’s definitely a big part of it but, it means allowing the power of the resurrection to make a difference in our lives.
There is a scripture from Philippians that I really like. The apostle Paul said, “…that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection…” (Phil. 3:10). What does Paul mean by “…the power of His resurrection?”
Paul wanted to experience, in his daily life, the power that brought Jesus from the grave. Think about that. Paul is talking about the power that brought a dead man to life. He is talking about the power that caused a heart to begin beating after it had stopped for two days. Paul said, “I want to know that power.”
You and I can know that power as well. But, how can we experience it?
Every day, the Bible challenges us to “…be filled with the Spirit” (Eph. 5:18). The Holy Spirit represents the same power that brought Jesus from the grave. So, when we ask the Holy Spirit to fill us, we are being filled by and led by the same power that raised Jesus from the grave.
That means that whatever challenge we are facing; whether it be financial, physical, emotional or spiritual, the power of the Holy Spirit within us can help us to deal with it. So, we can experience the power of the resurrection every day.
What challenge or challenges are you facing
Identify them and give them to the Lord.
I encourage you, this year, to experience the power of the resurrection every day. Don’t let Easter be a one day event.