John 15:3-4 TPT
The words I have spoken over you have already cleansed you. [4] So you must remain in life-union with me, for I remain in life-union with you. For as a branch severed from the vine will not bear fruit, so your life will be fruitless unless you live your life intimately joined to mine.
The life of a fruiting tree in North America and some other countries in the western world is quite fascinating. An immigrant who migrates to any of these countries for the first time in the winter may marvel at the seemingly lifeless piece of wood, covered with snow and wonder why it has not been cut down. These same trees that are dry in the winter flourish every spring. The key to the survival and continuous flourishing of these trees is that they are not separated from the root.
John 15:1-8 gives us a unique perspective to our relationship with our Father God and our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. It is important to note that what attracts a person to a tree is the fruit or the beautiful leaves on the branches. That means, for the world to embrace Jesus, it will be through His Church. No wonder our Father is committed to our beautification. Nothing says more of the benevolence and grace of our God than when His Children are thriving. So He continues to prune and purify His branches. How? John 15:3 says you are already clean through the Words I have spoken to you.
Ephesians 5:26 shows another dynamic of our relationship with God, as a Lover and a Husband. He cleans his wife through the Words He speaks to her. Just like a husband drives off insecurities from his wife by speaking affirming words to her and reproofs his wife in love by speaking words of correction and counsel, so that she may be a wife he is proud of, our King speaks peaceably to His Church words of affirmation and correction and counsel, that He may present her to Himself a glorious bride. Isaiah 50:4, speaking prophetically of Christ says He speaks a word in season to him that is weary. To those of a fearful heart, He says fear not, Your God will come and save. These words come to us, both on an individual basis and in a corporate (church) setting. This is why Jesus says of each sheep, that they hear His voice. Our ability to be pure depends on our ability to listen to Him, individually. He speaks through various means, but we hear Him in our spirit because we are His Sheep!
John 15:4 shows a principle of life and fruitfulness; abide in Me and I in you and you will bear much fruit. John 15:7 shows that He abides in us through His Word and as we remain and ponder on these words of Life to do them, we abide in Him. Those who will reign in life with Jesus are those who bear much fruit. Knowing this truth inspires intentionality in our walk with God. This may mean finding snippets of our daily lives, perhaps a 15-minute break to pray or ponder on a verse of the scriptures, or even playing an audio bible or life-giving message in the background.
A person who struggles with a moral failure or a failure of any kind is guaranteed a change as he faithfully abides in Christ. David, knowing the power of this Word to convert (turn back) our souls (desires, emotions, will, and mind) to God (Psalm 19:7), said in Psalm 119:11, I have hidden Your word in my heart that I will not sin against You. This same David was known to thrive in situations that would cause men to compromise and had the name, the man after God’s own heart. He understood the secret: without God, he couldn’t do or be anything. However, with God, he could be more fruitful and beautiful than any man could imagine.
Final thought: A person who sees a tree in the winter may judge the tree as lifeless, without knowing the flow of life and water in it. Never judge yourself or a brother by the weaknesses you see. So long as this person remains in Christ, their fruitfulness is guaranteed and would surely manifest. Come up to the realm John was called to in Revelation 4, where everything was perfected and finished in Christ, and every creature magnified God. From this lens, you will only have love and good thoughts about yourself and your fellow men.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, this day I realize that without you, I am nothing, but in You, I have all things. Help me to be still and listen to your life-giving Word today and observe to do it, that my ways may be prosperous and I will have good success. Amen
Scripture Reading: John 15
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