If fruit is produced by remaining, then it goes without saying that no fruit is produced by not remaining. But Jesus states it even clearer than that. “For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.”
Oh the lies we believe. I don’t know about you but I spent many years making my plans and asking God to bless them. “For a man makes his plans, but The Lord orders his steps.” I’ve made a lot of plans, then found them in complete chaos, and spent a lot of wasted energy begging God to bless them. But there is something far more beautiful in enjoying the relationship of remaining and in that enjoyment, I ask God, “What are you asking of me? What are you wanting me to do? What are you doing that I can be a part of?”
Much more enjoyable to make plans knowing The Lord is ordering our steps. Apart from Christ we can do nothing. We can pretend we can. Force things to happen. Even manipulate things into existence. But all we have accomplished is something temporary and potentially painful. But oh when we stay connected to the Vine, and the Vine leads the direction of the growth, we can rest assured that in the Vine is everything we need to accomplish what He is asking.
Often in times of ministry when there are BIG things that I know God needs to do, the only thing I have to ask myself is, “Did God ask me to do this?” And if the answer is “Yes.” Then I thank Him for the provision for it.
God never intended us to do it alone. That is why He allows dead ends of nothingness to await us when we do. Because hopefully those dead ends will turn our hearts back to the beautiful place of remaining and abiding. I don’t know about you but I want to produce fruit. Good fruit. Edible fruit. Alive fruit. And I know God wants the same for you.
So what if you take some time with your heavenly Vine dresser and ask Him. “Father, of all the things I am doing what are you asking of me?” Then wait and listen. And when He answers, because He will answer, whether through a passage of scripture, a conversation with a friend, a sermon at church, or that gentle whisper in the quietness of your soul, be willing to let go of what needs to let go of and have the courage to grab hold of what needs to be grabbed hold of. Because in that type of living there is much…oh so much fruit.
