40 Days of Truth - 03
Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days of TRUTH
Day 3 |THE TRUTH ABOUT FRUIT
40 Days of TRUTH
Day 3 |THE TRUTH ABOUT FRUIT
THE TRUTH ABOUT FRUIT
John 15:5-7
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you may ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.” (NKJV)
We have a dwarf lemon tree in our front yard. Not tall but it yields a lot of lemons! Every now and then, a lemon falls off the tree. Soon it starts to rot and must be thrown away.
Jesus is teaching and using agrarian terms which would have been crystal clear to the listeners of that era.
Another version puts it this way: “I am the sprouting vine and you’re my branches. As you live in union with me as your source, fruitfulness will stream from within you.” It’s clear that our Lord wants us to have a close relationship with Him.
The Song of Solomon captures this close relationship like this: “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.” (Song of Solomon 6:3)
Just like our lemon tree, healthy branches connected to the vine produced LOTS of fruit. In fact, the purpose of a branch IS to produce fruit. And each piece of fruit has seeds in it which are also capable of reproducing and growing more trees and more fruit.
Some people buy heirloom seeds from which they can grow plants – fruits and vegetables – which will contain seeds which are capable of reproducing. Most of what we have in the stores today are “hybrid” types whose seeds are not capable of reproducing.
I think of Jesus’ words: “Without me you can do nothing,” like the difference between hybrid and heirloom. It doesn’t mean they (the people) could literally not do anything, but nothing of importance or nothing of real eternal value.
Jesus then shares the truth in a warning that one who is not abiding (attached) to the Vine is cast out, like our lemons which drop to the ground.
The application is clear – stay connected to the VINE. For us, the Vine is Jesus the Christ, the Son of the Living God.
If someone were to watch you, would they see any fruit? “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22)
Prayer. Lord, I want to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit. I know I can’t do that apart from You and the Spirit of God. Help me to be a good branch and stay closely connected to You, my Vine. Amen.
John 15:5-7
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you may ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.” (NKJV)
We have a dwarf lemon tree in our front yard. Not tall but it yields a lot of lemons! Every now and then, a lemon falls off the tree. Soon it starts to rot and must be thrown away.
Jesus is teaching and using agrarian terms which would have been crystal clear to the listeners of that era.
Another version puts it this way: “I am the sprouting vine and you’re my branches. As you live in union with me as your source, fruitfulness will stream from within you.” It’s clear that our Lord wants us to have a close relationship with Him.
The Song of Solomon captures this close relationship like this: “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.” (Song of Solomon 6:3)
Just like our lemon tree, healthy branches connected to the vine produced LOTS of fruit. In fact, the purpose of a branch IS to produce fruit. And each piece of fruit has seeds in it which are also capable of reproducing and growing more trees and more fruit.
Some people buy heirloom seeds from which they can grow plants – fruits and vegetables – which will contain seeds which are capable of reproducing. Most of what we have in the stores today are “hybrid” types whose seeds are not capable of reproducing.
I think of Jesus’ words: “Without me you can do nothing,” like the difference between hybrid and heirloom. It doesn’t mean they (the people) could literally not do anything, but nothing of importance or nothing of real eternal value.
Jesus then shares the truth in a warning that one who is not abiding (attached) to the Vine is cast out, like our lemons which drop to the ground.
The application is clear – stay connected to the VINE. For us, the Vine is Jesus the Christ, the Son of the Living God.
If someone were to watch you, would they see any fruit? “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22)
Prayer. Lord, I want to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit. I know I can’t do that apart from You and the Spirit of God. Help me to be a good branch and stay closely connected to You, my Vine. Amen.
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