John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." New International Version (NIV)
Driving down South 8th street in Waco, I tried to locate the place where my roommates and I lived. I resided in a music room with a cherry wood ceiling. It leaked when it rained so I had to move my bed during the night to avoid the drops of water falling. Sounds like an old B. J. Thomas, song, doesn’t it? The building is gone, replaced with a restaurant or apartments.
On the other hand, the old house was not all bad. There was a rose bush out front so my young single roommates and I would take turns sharing roses with girls whom we liked. The plant produced many roses. Then one day we came home and it looked like Edward Scissorhands had destroyed it. Actually one of my good friends who was our landlord had cut it back. This annoyed all the roommates. But the day came when the roses blossomed in even greater numbers than before. A group of young ministry students should have recognized John 15:2, “he prunes fruitful branches so that they will be even more fruitful.”
On the night before his crucifixion Jesus made many promises to his disciples. He told them that he would take them to live in his Father’s house. Jesus offered the hope of the Comforter, the Holy Spirit. He promised that he would not leave them as orphans, but he would come for them. Jesus said, “My peace I give to you . . .” Then he reminded them of Isaiah’s vision of Israel as a vine. “I am the true vine . . .” His disciples were branches susceptible of bearing much fruit. The key was in their abiding relationship with Jesus. We cannot bear fruit apart from Christ.
The corollary, as Dallas Willard observes, is this: if we do nothing, we will do it without Christ. Connection with Christ, living as his apprentices, he empowers us and we bear lasting spiritual fruit. But if we are bound and determined to do nothing, we will do it alone. He does not work that way. Fruit-bearing reveals relationship. So go, grow, and bear fruit. You were made for this!
Pray with me:
Father, prune us as you choose so that we may bear more fruit for you. Today let us live consciously connected to you, growing and bearing fruit for your Kingdom. Let us remain in your love today, we pray. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This year our Every Day with Jesus readings will follow The Bible Project Read Scripture Plan. Copies of this reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download the app at readscripture.org. Read through the Bible with us in 2019!
Joyfully,
Duane
Copyright 2019. All Rights Reserved.
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