July 18, 2011

I received this devotion via email some time back and it was very challenging to me and wanted to share it with those of you who take the time to read my blog.

John 15:5 - I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing."

“There are those who feel that they must be constantly laboring for the Lord in order to meet God's high standards. Jesus gave a clear picture of what our relationship to Him ought to be like. He is the vine, the source of our life. We are the branches, the place where fruit is produced. As we receive life from Christ, the natural, inevitable result is that fruit is produced in our lives.

In our zeal to produce "results" for our Lord, we sometimes become so intent on fruit production that we neglect abiding in Christ. We may feel that "abiding" is not as productive or that it takes too much time away from our fruit production. Yet Jesus said that it is not our activity that produces fruit, it is our relationship with Him.

Jesus gave an important warning to His disciples. He cautioned that if they ever attempted to live their Christian life apart from an intimate relationship with Him, they would discover that they ceased to produce any significant results. They might exert great effort for the kingdom of God, yet when they stopped to account for their lives, they would find only barrenness. One of the most dramatic acts Jesus ever performed was cursing a fig tree that had failed to produce fruit. Are you comfortable in abiding, or are you impatient to be engaged in activity? If you will remain steadfastly in fellowship with Jesus, a great harvest will be the natural by-product.”

In addition, it is important to remember that fruit takes time to be produced and to mature. Lets remember that when we are tempted to grow impatient with our children, our spouse and even ourselves. Why do we make something so “simple” so hard? All we need to do is abide in Christ!! Yet WE want to focus on fruit production. The works we do outside of what comes from abiding in Christ will not stand the test, they will be done in our own strength and thus burn up. Matthew 7:16-20 reads, “ By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.” So what “fruit” are we producing? You can staple “good fruit” to your branches but very soon it will be clear that this fruit was manufactured and did not come from the fruit abiding in the vine. Stop focusing on the fruit and focus on abiding..the fruit will come. As is says in Galatians 5:22, “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.” If your abiding in the vine you and others will see these in your life. And if your not seeing them, cry out to God and again..ABIDE in him!!