Branch Life; Part 3

Feb. 9

Read: John 15:5-11

Branch Life; Part 3

“By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples…These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” - Jesus

God the Father is glorified when we bear much fruit! God’s desire is that your life would be fruitful. God’s goal is not to leave you barren and fruitless. God takes no pleasure in a “fruitless” life. In this way we are “proven to be disciples” who are “abiding in Christ” when we bear much fruit. Why would we think otherwise? How often do we feel as though God is out to get us… or that somehow we have been “doomed” by him? Ask the Father to prove you as a disciple by bearing fruit in you… he will do it!

My friend Pete Hammond always says, “one team, one dream” and that “teamwork makes the dream work”. I love these sayings! God is inviting us to abide in Christ and be part of his team. We are united with Christ and we are indeed “one team, one dream”. This is how the Father is glorified by bearing fruit in us and through us. This is for his glory and for our JOY. Jesus says as much. Jesus is letting us in on this secret of “branch life” so that his “joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” Jesus finds joy in our bearing fruit. His joy is “in us” on many levels: he gives us his joy but also he finds joy in us. Think of the way you might say to a loved one, “my joy is in you”. What are you trying to convey? You want them to know that you love them and you are hoping that sharing this with them brings them joy and comfort as well… “one team, one dream”.

Verse 6 shows us the alternative: “If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.” There is no lasting joy or purpose outside of Christ. When we become disconnected from Christ we “wither”. Withered and disconnected branches will one day be disposed of … “thrown into the fire”. The tenses in this verse matter - things that are “thrown away” (past tense) and “withered” (past tense) are gathered, thrown into the fire, and “they burn”. The burning is a present tense verb. What this tells us is not abiding always precedes throwing away and withering. Only disconnected, thrown away, and withered branches are burnt because there is nothing left to do with them anyways. Think of how a vine uses all of its energy to create fruit. The branches of a vine are not really good for anything else. They are not like the branches of a tree that you can use to make things… lumber… etc. The branches of a vine only have one purpose - to bear fruit! These verses are not meant to scare true believers into some performance based Christianity, they are simply to show us what happens when branches become disconnected.

Do you feel like you are “withering”? Spend sometime today with Jesus. Speak truthfully to him and tell him how you feel. Ask Christ to show you how you are connected to him. Ask the Lord to strengthen that bond. Call out to the vinedresser and let him know you are in need of being “picked up”. Is the enemy telling you that your life is destined to be fruitless? Take comfort in this, the Father is GLORIFIED by you bearing fruit… and he ALWAYS GETS HIS GLORY. Find REST in the vine today… know that Jesus (the Vine) has gone to great lengths to strengthen you and make you bear fruit. He will never give up. Start talking to Jesus - the Vine - today and declare your heart to abide in him. Listen to what he says back to you. Write it down. Read it over. This is one small step towards “abiding”. Your connection to Christ is the only source for life and “fruit”. The Vine (Jesus) is a source of JOY that is near to you always. Test this out today. Love you guys. -JDP

PS- I have the opportunity to spend the next few days kayaking with some men from our ministry (3GENministries.org) I would appreciate the prayers. I am looking forward to some great “abiding” and resting time while on the river. The weather has not been optimum… but it is going to be a great adventure! Thank you in advance for your support.