BIBLE BULLETS - 10

John 15:5

I’ve never grown grapes. But it doesn’t take a highly trained horticulturist to figure this out… if you cut a branch away from the vine, that branch will never produce grapes! In order to produce grapes, the branch must remain attached to the life-giving vine.

Listen to what Jesus said to His disciples: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser… Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me” (John 15:1–4, ESV)

Suppose I’m a branch. I was once attached to the grape vine, but I’ve decided to go out on my own. I’m no longer attached. I don’t abide in the vine. How much fruit will I produce? If I grunt and grown and try my best, will I produce grapes? Of course not. Only if I remain attached to the vine will I produce fruit.

So it is in the Christian life. I will only experience the fruit of the Spirit, “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22–23), if I “abide in Christ.”

Memorize and meditate on this red-letter promise: “I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me” (John 15:5).

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).