Recently I have been spending a great deal of time in the book by Bruce Wilkinson entitled, Secrets of the Vine. Spiritual growth is knowing whether our fruit is bitter or sweet, ripe or decaying, so let’s ask ourselves, “What kind of fruit are we producing?” Is it delicious and tasty or mouth curdling and repulsive? Do others want to partake of anything we have to offer or do they cringe in disgust at our very presence amongst them? Let’s look further into the importance of remaining in Christ. John 15:5-6 states, “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. (NKJV)
This year has been a tough one for my family thus far and we are being stretched at every angle as we prepare to lose our home and move out of state by fall. When I let these distractions overtake me and let go of the Vine, spiritual growth comes to a halt, and I wither and become useless in the hand of God. My fruit becomes distasteful and withers as well.
Abiding in Jesus produces the kind of fruit that blesses and nourishes the lives of our family, friends and strangers we meet. It’s this fruit that brings glory to God and empowers us to do great things for the Lord. Remaining in Christ and richly growing in Him harvests tasty fruit that produces a vineyard sweet to the soul and nourishing to the spirit.
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