SCRIPTURE:
“Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “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.”
John 15:4-5
OBSERVATION:
The branch NEEDS the vine to remain fruitful. The branch receives life from the vine. Apart from the vine, the branch can produce no fruit.
APPLICATION:
Growing up my Dad had a large garden in our backyard. I remember him growing all kinds of fruits and vegetables like tomatoes, eggplants and cucumbers. On one side of the yard was a fence he installed that would allow different kinds of vegetables with vines to grow and wrap around. From time to time he would cut away some of the branches. They would fall to the ground and would die shortly thereafter.
Apart from the vine, there was no life and definitely no fruit.
There was a time in my life where I was doing a lot of different things, trying so many things in life and in ministry, but there was little fruit to be found. There was some growth, but nothing substantial.
The closer I got to the Lord in my walk, in The Word and in my relationship with Him was when I began to see the fruit begin to grow in abundance. What was the difference? My dependence on the vine as my source. The more and more I remain in Him, and He remains in me through His Word and my relationship with Him, the more the fruit in my life begins to grow.
PRAYER:
Father Almighty. Forgive me Lord when I have mistakenly thought and assumed that I was the source. Thank You Lord for the fruit You bring. May I continue to abide in You, and You in me, this I pray, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
