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DAY 18: I APPOINTED YOU

by Pastor Heiden Ratner
Jan. 23rd, 2025

“…and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.” – John 15:16b/em>

DEVOTION

It’s one thing to be chosen; it’s another to have a role. Being selected is humbling, while being given a task is empowering. In all my years of playing sports, coaching, or serving as a chaplain, I’ve never met anyone who enjoyed sitting on the bench. The Lord has designed us to be difference-makers. As Paul writes to the Ephesians: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).
 
In John 15, as Jesus continues His captivating message, He inspires His disciples by reminding them that they were appointed. According to Webster’s Dictionary, ‘appointed’ means “chosen for a particular job.” Jesus wanted His disciples to understand that they were not just chosen to be on His team; they wereanointed and appointed to make an impact.
 
Jesus saw potential in these disciples, even if they didn’t see it in themselves. He recognized that they had much to contribute, and their contribution was fruit from the vine. It had been eight verses since He last mentioned fruit (John 15:8), so He reminded them again of their appointment, declaring: “…appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide” (John 15:16a). Jesus emphasized that He wanted their fruit to endure; He didn’t want it to die with them, but to continue through their Kingdom investments. This could manifest through the sermons they would preach, the baptisms they would facilitate, the disciples they would make, the churches they would plant, or the people they would heal. Jesus wanted to multiply their fruit, but instead of this fruit becoming dry and moldy, He wanted it to last.
 
Think about it: how did the gospel come to you? Have you ever considered that you might be the answer to someone’s prayer? You could be the abiding fruit resulting from someone else’s appointment. Don’t let the work end with your story; continue to abide in Christ, walk in your appointment, and bear much fruit—fruit that remains.
 
“But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.” – 1 John 2:27

PRAYER

Father, thank You for anointing me with Your Spirt, and appointing me for the task of bearing fruit. I pray that as I abide in You, that You would multiply more fruit through me. I pray this fruit would live on, and produce more fruit in the next generation. I receive my appointment. Lord, make a difference through me. In Jesus’ name, amen!

NEXT STEP

Ask the Lord to give you more divine appointments along your journey. Ask Him to help you be aware when these appointments arise and use you to bear fruit through them. Be prepared to step into these moments—even when it requires sharing your faith and being bold.

1 Comment

  1. Acamy

    Never in my life have I considered that I could be an answer to someone’s prayer. That’s CRAZY!!!! And perhaps I never thought about something like that because up until recently, I certainly didn’t have any abiding fruit. I was in a John 15:2a situation! BUT GOD!! He lifted me up and changed my story. And to think, I don’t even have to try to bear fruit. It’s happening simply by staying in the presence of God and meditating on His Word day and night. It’s such a simple thing, but I didn’t understand it until I went deeper in my love with the Lord and His Word. He truly is everything, for real.

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