Bearing Fruit In Its Season

By Wissam Nasrallah

June 16, 2025

“By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.” – John 15:8 

Early summer in Lebanon is a beautiful time — the season of peaches, prunes, loquats, and wild berries. The land begins to yield its fruit, and all around us we see signs of ripening— of abundance coming quietly, steadily, and in its time. It is a season that invites reflection: just as fruit appears only after a long and hidden process, so too are we called to bear spiritual fruit in due season. 

At Thimar-LSESD, our very name, “Thimar” (ثمار), meaning fruits in Arabic, reminds us daily of the sacred calling to bear the fruits of faith. Yet bearing fruit is not a product of mere effort or secret evangelistic formula.  

As Jesus teaches in John 15, it flows from a deeper source. “Abide in me,” He says, “and you will bear much fruit.” The life of the disciple is not first about doing, but about being rested, rooted, and alive in Christ, the true Vine. From that vital union, the Spirit produces what we could never manufacture on our own: lasting, God-glorifying fruit. 

Throughout Scripture, fruitfulness is one of the great themes of redemption—from Eden’s lost garden to the tree of life in Revelation. It is the picture of a people flourishing under the care of the Vinedresser. But fruit does not appear overnight. Ministry, like agriculture, unfolds in seasons: removing stones, breaking ground, planting seeds, watering, pruning, waiting, and—by God’s grace—harvesting. Each task has its time. And in each, we are called to be faithful, diligent, and intentional. 

In that sense, ministry is a shared labor across time. Those who harvest owe a debt to those who plowed and sowed. And those who sow rest on the work of those who first prepared the soil. But the glory belongs to God alone—the One who sovereignly oversees the entire process and brings it to completion. What a privilege it is to be tools in the hands of the redeemer.  

Here in Lebanon, we are witnessing this process unfold in remarkable ways. During the recent war, our region became a place of refuge for fellow Lebanese from different faith backgrounds. Serving them in their time of need was a gift. We believe these relationships represent the early stages of Gospel work—soil being prepared, trust being nurtured. Fruit may take time, but the process has started.  

Elsewhere, among Druze, Syrian, and Kurdish communities, we are seeing signs of harvest. Seeds planted in hardship are now bearing the marks of transformation—lives being discipled, communities being renewed, hearts turning to Christ. It is not because of our strength, but because the Vine is alive and the Spirit is moving. 

At Thimar, we know we are just one branch among many. The Church across the world is diverse and vibrant. Together, we reflect the fullness of Christ’s tree of life. Let us therefore long to be known—not by our busyness or achievements—but by the fruit we bear: fruit induced by the Spirit, watered by the Word, and pruned by the Father. 

May the Lord continue to bring forth fruit through this work—fruit that blesses others, glorifies God, and endures into eternity. 

Thank you for abiding with us through your faithful prayers, encouragement, and support.