Bearing Fruit – pt. 3 How?

Jesus tells us in John 15:4 “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.” NKJV

Abiding in Christ is simply going about our normal everyday lives aware of His presence and living to please Him. In verse 9-10 Jesus encourages His disciples to abide in His love. “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.”

He is our example. He did it first. So as we walk with Him throughout our day we can imagine walking with Him while on earth as He showed us how. This isn’t something that is a requirement of us that He demands from afar. He walked it out for us as an example.

John 15:5 Jesus tells us that He is the main vine and we are the branches. The main vine supplies all that the branches need. The branches aren’t disconnected from the vine expected to produce fruit on their own. A disconnected branch will die. We get all we need from Jesus the main vine. The branch can only allow the nourishment from the vine to produce fruit in us, the branches.

Let’s find ways to remind ourselves that we are living in His presence, doing all for Him, doing all with Him. Let’s realize that we cannot, but He can. He is our life source. I think the biggest hurdle we need to cross is admitting we can’t. But it is essential. As long as we think we can, then He steps aside and lets us do as we please.

What did Jesus say about His own natural abilities? In John 5:19 He says, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.”

What is our source of life? 

More tomorrow. Blessings