Lets’ get back to the branches (us).
John 15: 5-6
“I am the vine, you are the branches. If man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit. Apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.”
We know many people who try to be good, honest, and do what is right. We also try to do what is good and honest. But Jesus says that the only way to live a truly good life is to stay close to Him. Don’t shoot the messenger here.
How do we stay close to Him? Like a branch that stays close to the vine, we are to stay close to Him. In the previous devotional, I outlined five ways to do that.
Therefore, if I am a branch and I do not stay close to the vine (Jesus), the things I do are not going to be very fruitful, if at all, and Christ will not be a part of them. My efforts will be unfruitful, no lemons, oranges or limes from me. “NO FRUIT FOR YOU!”
Every tree that grows needs nourishment right? We do too. Our branches need nourishment if we are to produce fruit. Our branches need Christ. He gives us what we need every day to grow stronger and more productive. Fruit trees become useless if they are not nourished. You can look at the orange tree in my back yard and see that. It is struggling.
The question for all of us is this – Are we receiving the nourishment and life offered by Christ? If not, we are missing out on a very special gift. We are missing out on some very special nourishment that will strengthen our branches and help us bear fruit, fruit that will last.
Maybe you are thinking you could use some more fertilizer to help your branches grow. Seek out the gardener, seek out Jesus Christ and ask Him for more. Get into the handbook, the Bible for directions.
Prayer time:
Lord, help me to recognize where I fall short in my fruit bearing. Help me to strengthen my branches, to strengthen my connection to you, to draw closer to the vine that gives life to me. Lord, I am so thankful for the life you have given me. I know no other way than you now. I don’t ever want to go back to the life I knew before. It was empty, I was frail and falling apart. I was weak. Thanks God, for your love every day. To you be the glory for my fruit tree. In your son’s name I pray, Amen.
In His Service,
Jeanette Duby
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