Next, I want to look at the reason or purpose of why we have been chosen by God. Let us look again at John 15:16 which says: “You did not choose me, but I chose you that you should bear fruit and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in my name He may give you”. In a nutshell, God wants the world to see His nature and the only way it can be seen is through us. As we consider fruit being seen in our lives it is essential to understand that we cannot make spiritual fruit to grow in our lives. Fruit trees do not strive to bear fruit providing they are healthy this what they just do. It is also important to recognise what the Bible says about fruit – singularly just like there is only one nature of God. Let us now look at what the Bible says in Galations5:22-23 “But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, against such there is no law”. Galatians 5:22a NLT says: “But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, we will produce this kind of fruit in us”. There are two ways in which we can grow fruit in our lives firstly by our strength ability and determination – the god of this world has created a flourishing self-help industry it is fake because for it comes from man’s strength and not from God. The other way to produce fruit is through our relationship with the Lord, Jesus said in John 15:5 & 8 “I am the vine, you are the branches, he who abides (remains) in me, and I in him, bears much fruit, for without Me you can do nothing. By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; so shall you be my disciples”. As we live in the freshness of this new year I believe it is time for us to stand out against the world, the church should not blend with the world but display the nature of Jesus and be a bright light in this dark and getting darker world. When sin came into the world and corrupted it God had a plan to restore His dominion over the world and we are part of that plan when we decided to make Jesus Lord of our lives. I believe it is time to put aside all things that stop our relationship with the Lord to flourish. I am so encouraged by the fact God knew me before I was born and has a good plan for my life. While last year was one of the great challenges, it is now gone and in God, we have a great future. I look forward with great excitement – not to be entangled in the world’s way, but pursue the Lord with everything that I have and shine brightly for the Lord this year. There is a song that I used to sing, the words are “I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back, I have decided to follow Jesus nor turning back”. This is the year for our fruit to remain and the Lord’s presence on our lives impact those who are around us.