"I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away:
and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit…" (John 15:1-2)
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ARE YOU FRUITFUL OR FRUITLESS?
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What am I to do once I have been saved? Should I start
going to church? Should I increase my giving to the poor? Should I join the choir? While, each of these actions,
the use of our time, treasure and talent are good things they are not the primary duties after salvation. We are
saved for one purpose and one purpose only - to bear fruit. Jesus said a tree is known by the fruit it bears (Mark 6:44).
In verse 5, of the same chapter, Jesus compared our life
to the branches on a grapevine. He said, "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he
it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5, RSV). Jesus used some of his most harsh
words, not to the murder, prostitute or liar, but rather to fruitlessness. In Matthew 21:19, he said, "And when he saw
a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on
thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away."
Without being guilty of overly spiritualizing,
I found it interesting that the text stated,"…a fig tree in the way." Since it was not bearing fruit it was just in
the way. On another occasion he said, "And if it bear fruit well, and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down"
(Luke 13:9). There is no need to let a fruitless tree continue to live, he said cut it down. Once again, he said,
"And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the
word, and it becometh unfruitful" (Mark 4:19).
Are you bearing fruit? Have anyone come to know Jesus Christ as their
personal savior because of you being used by God? Is your life fruitful or fruitless?
How can one move from fruitless to fruitful? First, you must abide
in the branch. The secret to fruit bearing is as basic for you as it is for the grapevine; you must remain attached to
the vine. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, who bears witness that you are attached to the vine, you will be fruitful.
Second, stop trying to do and just be. When a branch is attached to the vine, the only thing that it needs to do is
surrender to the vine. Third, accept the purging of the Lord. We are purged, not to hurt us, but rather so that we may be
more fruitful. Fourth, constantly check the seeds you are planting. You will reap what you sow. Finally, follow the
leading of the sap (Holy Spirit) from the vine. When the branch is open to and guide by the sap it cannot help but to
produce fruit.
"The night is far spent, the day is at hand……" (Ro. 13:12a). Harvest time is near! What will the Master say about
your crop?
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