Fruitful Living.
The Gospel of John
John Chapter 15
Scripture: John chapter 15:5, 7, 16 (Amplified Bible)
5 I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.
7 If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.
16 You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and I have appointed you [I have planted you], that you might go and bear fruit and keep on bearing, and that your fruit may be lasting [that it may remain, abide], so that whatever you ask the Father in My Name [as presenting all that I AM], He may give it to you.
Observation: I love this Chapter, in fact, John chapters 13 – 17 are some of my favorite chapters in the whole Bible. These Chapters take us from the upper room to the Garden of Gethsemane. I chose these verses because of how they fit together. Most versions use the words ‘abide in me’ but the Amplified uses the words ‘lives in me’. Jesus says that if we live in him we will bear much fruit. If we are apart from him we cannot bear anything. He also states that if we continue this relationship with him that he will give us everything that we need to be fruitful. At first glance verse 16, seems to be an interesting contrast of verses 5 and 7; It tells us that Jesus is the one who chose us to bear fruit and he will give us lasting fruit. The focus of this verse is Jesus choosing us. In verses 5 and seven the focus seems rather, to be on us choosing to live with Jesus. One is Jesus’ choice and the other is our own choice. It seems according to theses verses that bearing fruit is a natural byproduct of living in Christ. Bearing fruit seems like the natural thing to do. Everything we need to be fruitful is found in a growing relationship with Christ. Our walk with Jesus will be productive to us as well as those who are around us. Jesus will touch other’s lives from them just being around us. Being fruitful will not just randomly happen it is what happens when we live in Christ and he lives in us.
Application: I want to choose above all to really know Jesus. I want to live with him as my source; all that I need for life. I need to make sure that intimacy with Jesus is the greatest priority in my life. I need to spend time with him and read his word, not to earn anything or prove anything, but to be able to reproduce. Reproduction was created by God to be a function and result of intimacy. Cultivate intimacy with Jesus and you will reproduce fruit in your life and in the life of others!
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I want to bear fruit that will last! I want to go deeper in my walk with you. I want to trust you for all of life. With you, my life has a purpose and the power to accomplish it. As I walk in you today may I see lasting fruit in my life and in the lives of others?
