[Real Life] The True VineSample

Fruit Bearer

If you are not bearing fruit, you are in the muck of life. The gardener wants to come and lift you up and put you in a place where you can grow. You will never be satisfied in your life until you are on the trellis and out of the mud. A believer in Christ, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, is not meant for the mire or the muck off the trellis. We are meant to bear fruit. Whenever we see our lives dragging in the dirt, we need to realize that is not what we were meant for. God wants to lift us up. If we think He is a peasant and we are the boss, we will never let Him do it. If we allow Him to lift us up, He will then place us up high where He can show us off for His glory. As He places you there, He will say, “This is what I meant for you, my child.”

Jesus is the true vine, and the Father is the Gardener. The Gardener takes those who do not bear fruit and He lifts them up out of the muck. He knows that grapes do not grow well on the ground. Pumpkins and squash might, grapes don't. Believers don't. Would you allow Him to lift you and place you on the trellis of growth? That is where you will get the sunshine you need. 

Both type of believers, those who bear fruit and those who do not bear fruit, will have an aha moment when they say, “Why am I doing this? This might work right now but it doesn’t work for the long run!” At that moment, wake up and let the Gardener lift you up. 

Believers who are bearing fruit are also in need of perfecting storms. They are on the right path and in that journey, are being perfected, made better and stronger. They are given the opportunity to grow and exercise faith. When the Gardener prunes, we say: “Lord, don't prune away the leaves. Take the thorns instead.” We get nervous about the pruning because we love today’s leaves more than tomorrow’s fruit. 

How is He shaping you? How is God showing you that He is not a peasant? He is doing so by showing you that if you love tomorrow’s fruit more than today’s leaves, you will begin to be perfected in Christ.