24 Series Devotionals - Day 43

“I am the true vine….(John 15:1)

In John 10, Jesus speaks of the shepherd and the sheep.  The sheep enter the sheepfold through the door guarded by the shepherd.  Any so-called sheep who tried to get in any other way is called a thief and a robber.  The sheep hear their Shepherd’s voice and He calls them out, and they follow Him.  This intimate relationship between Shepherd and sheep is maintained by the close communion they cultivate day in and day out.  Union and Communion.

Likewise, in John 15, the vine and branches require union and communion to bear fruit.  

“….My Father is the vine dresser.”  ((John 15:1b)  What happens if the branches do not bear fruit?  Really, the question is, “what does God do in your life to help you bear much fruit that remains?”

We are chosen and appointed by God to bear much fruit.  We have been saved to serve.  Once we discover our need of God and His incredible provision for us, we are connected to the body, His church, and appointed to serve others and bear fruit.

Fruit-bearing comes in two distinctly different varieties:

(1) Character.  Galatians 5:22-23 itemizes the components of this:  Love; joy; peace; patience; kindness; goodness; faithfulness; gentleness; self-control.  All the fruit is singular; a hybrid.

(2) Christians.  In Mark 4:20, we are told  (speaking of the unfruitful), “And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word and accept it, and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.”

A popular TV commercial from years ago said, “You deserve a break today.”  Take a break now to search your heart.  Be sure your fruit is bearing….and returning many times what God has given you.