A grapevine usually does not grab one’s attention, except when its branches are laden with lush clusters of fruit; it is the fruit that is the main attraction to the vine! However it is the function of the vine to provide the vital sap to the branches producing the fruit. In John 15:1-8 Jesus likens Himself to the vine and His followers to the branches, saying in verse 5, “He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit”. John the Baptist preached saying, “Bring forth fruit that is consistent with repentance – let your lives prove your change of heart” Matthew 3:8 Amplified Bible. The fruit God is looking for in His followers is Christ-likeness. The alcoholic becomes sober, the abusive husband and father becomes gentile and kind, the cursing tongue becomes filled with praise, the liar becomes honest, the thief becomes just; “the works of the flesh” listed in Galatians 5:19-21 are put off, while the “fruit of the Spirit” listed in Galatians 5:22-23 are put on. It is living in a manner that draws others to Jesus through the testimony of our lifestyle, coupled with “words when necessary”, a lifestyle that is the life of Jesus flowing through us! The “sap” of His indwelling produces His fruit on our branch, the beauty and fragrance of which attracts others to Him; we bear the fruit of the vine drawing attention to the vine! To be this fruit bearing branch requires that we abide in Him, “As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me” verse 4. Then as the Father prunes us we become more fruitful, see Hebrews 12:6-7, 11; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Proverbs 15:10 says “…he who hates correction will die.”
A fruit bearer
By Rose Hill
In the Lord we must abide,
And stay very close to His side.
Apart from Him we can’t do a thing!
But with His help much fruit we bring
Unless otherwise noted Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version copyright …1982 by Thomas Nelson Co. used by permission