Fruit, Failure, and Faithfulness

“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. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned."

John 15:5-6 NIV

Suggested Reading: John 15: 1-17, Galatians 5: 13-26

We are the branches. We are not the Vine, the Vinedresser, or the fruit; we are the branches. We were designed to grow outward from what we are nourished by inward. Jesus said, "If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit." (verse 5) Remaining in Him means spending quality time with Him in His Word, living out His instructions, loving like Christ, and getting rid of the thoughts, words, and actions that don't reflect Him. When we are nourished inwardly by His Spirit, it produces good fruit outwardly such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (see Galatians 5:22-23). Our "fruit" is the result of what we are abiding in. In other words, whatever you abide in, you become.

So, what are you abiding in? Take a moment to do a self-evaluation of the fruit you are bearing. "No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thorn bushes, or grapes from briers. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of." (Luke 6:43-45). What is your heart full of? What are you feeding your mind and soul? How do you feel inside? Do you feel lost, bitter, angry, depressed, disturbed in some way, frustrated, confused, hopeless?

Negative, dark feelings and actions are influenced by circumstances and choices apart from Christ. Jesus said, "Apart from me you can do nothing" (verse 5). If you want to begin bearing good fruit, or fix the way you've been feeling, then you have to get attached, or re-attached, to Jesus, the Vine. We will fail at everything, including dealing with difficult situations, making difficult decisions, and handling difficult people, if we are unattached to Christ. Good fruit is hard to come by, and it's impossible to do on your own.

Thankfully, God does not give up on us. He is a Good Gardener. He gently pursues us with His truths and waits for us to abide in Him. Failure is an opportunity for growth, not an excuse to keep producing bad fruit. Seek God in all you do and say, and He will give you success. He is faithful even when we are not. He is forgiving and understanding. He is gentle and kind-hearted. He will graft you back to the Vine. Just ask Him. Then, thank Him, worship Him, and remain in Him.

Our omniscient God, Lord and Savior, cares and loves us so much that He desires us. He knows what is best for us and what kind of fruit looks good on us. He promises He has prosperous plans that give us a hope and a future, not harm (see Jeremiah 29:11). Harm does exist. It's a part of being in this sinful world and being sinful people, but He hasn't once failed to keep a promise, and He never will. God doesn't want to see us branches being picked up and thrown into the fire. No, He wants to see us bear much fruit--the kind of fruit that shows we branches can do anything in Christ!

Stay faithful. Become fruitful. And watch the wonders of God in your life as you abide in Him.