A branch that falls from the vine looks fine for a while, but when it can no longer draw nourishment from the vine, it dies. We are like that too. Jesus said, “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” (John 15:5). Our Father, the Gardener, throws away dead branches and prunes good branches so they will bear more fruit. Pruning might be painful at the time, but it is beneficial. God disciplines us and teaches us how to bear the fruit of the Spirit, “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). This cannot happen unless we abide in Jesus. The result is an abundant life. How do we abide so we can be fruitful? Pastor Warren Wiersbe said it this way:
- The more we know Jesus the more we will love Him.
- The more we love Him the more we will obey Him.
- The more we obey Him the more we abide in Him.
- The more we abide in Him the more fruit we will bear.
- The more fruit we bear the more abundant life we will experience.
THINK ABOUT IT
If you and I abide in Jesus, we will have abundant life. God will fill our lives to overflowing, and they will spill into the lives of those around us. It’s a kind of spiritual chain reaction that begins with spending time with our Lord–reading His word, lingering in His presence and heart talks with Him about all that concerns us. He loves us and never grows tired of hearing our prayers. He never sleeps or slumbers. He is always available whether it is the dark of night or the light of day. That is a True Friend, indeed.
PRAY ABOBUT IT
O Lord, send your Spirit on us. Draw us to your word. Speak to us and bless us so much that we will be your witnesses in this dark world. Let your light shine in us so others will experience your love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Tell Me the Story 