ListenDaily - 04 June 2009: Is there fruit?
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. John 15:1-8 NKJV (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
"He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."
How does this verse strike you? Is it comforting? Challenging? Frightening?
It could be any of the three, depending upon the person reading it. Hear Jesus saying this: "He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." Now, hear Him saying it as if He were speaking directly to you: "If you abide in Me, and I in you, you will bear much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."
Let's keep breaking it down, listening more closely, taking it more personally, each time. "If you abide in Me, and I in you, you will bear much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." Now, if Jesus says we must abide in order to bear fruit, and in order to do something -- then the reverse must be true.
"If you do not abide in Me, and I in you, you will not bear much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."
Abiding = bearing lots of fruit = doing something.
Not abiding = bearing little or no fruit = doing nothing.
So then, is this, for us, comforting? Challenging? Frightening? To answer we must ask and answer ourselves; are we seeing fruit?
Abide.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. How does this perspective strike you? 2. Do you see fruit in your life? 3. How do you abide?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
"Anyone can tell how many seeds are in an apple;
no one knows how many apples are in a seed."
Unknown
No comments:
Post a Comment