Day 18: Follow and Bear Fruit

Come Before Him in Worship: Let’s choose gratitude today as we become aware of His presence all around us. For He did not leave in the darkness of the night, but kept you as the apple of His eye as you slumbered. The day set before you is a gift from Him, hallelujah! Be reminded of this truth: We have JESUS. Without Him, we have nothing. And with Him we have all things. High praise to the worthy King! Pray this simple prayer as we begin: “I’m grateful for Your leadership. Teach me afresh today. Be glorified by how I trust You, by the power of Your Spirit.”

“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. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:4-5

“By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.” John 15:8

Devotion: There are many references to “fruit” in the scriptures. There is the fruit of righteousness (Hebrews 12:11), fruit that leads to sanctification (Romans 6:21-22), fruit of good works (Titus 3:14), but perhaps the most familiar is the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). When we bear all of these fruits, we prove that we are Jesus’ disciples and God is glorified!

The good news is that Christ, by His Spirit, bears these different kinds of fruit through us! In other words, we don’t have to do this in our own strength! In fact, we can’t! Sometimes Christians think that, once we are saved by grace, it’s now our job to bear the fruit. But it is only as we abide in the vine who is Jesus and His life begins to flow through us, that we bear fruit. Think of a branch that has been cut off from the vine. There is nothing on earth that can enable that branch to now bear fruit. It is the same with us. Cut off from the vine, we are incapable of bearing any fruit for the Kingdom.

Sanctification, the process by which we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin and live unto righteousness, is the work of God’s free grace (Westminster Shorter Catechism Question 35). Our job is simply to stay connected, by abiding in Jesus as described throughout this study and cooperating with Him as He makes everything in our lives and circumstances subservient to the one great purpose of causing us to grow in grace, and conforming us, day by day to the image of Christ (doing His work, manifesting His character). Let us trust that as we abide and follow, He will cause us to bear fruit and be a blessing to the world!

Respond in Prayer: What a miracle that I am attached to the Vine. It is You who keeps me, and I receive Your instruction today to remain. In a culture that moves so quickly, teach me how to follow Your pace. When I feel the need to prove myself, teach me how to wait on You. Give me opportunities today to stay in step with Your Spirit. I want to bear fruit through You and for You. Thank you my King, that Your abiding in me empowers me to do the same. What do You want to do today?