Bearing the fruit of righteousness, peace, and joy.
John 15:1-8
Jesus offers true life – the abundant life which comes from God and which results in great fruitfulness. How does the vine become fruitful? The vine dresser must carefully prune the vine before it can bear good fruit.
The non-bearing branches must be carefully pruned back in order for the vine to conserve its strength for bearing good fruit. Jesus used this image to describe the kind of life he produces in those who are united with him. The fruit he speaks of here is the fruit of the Holy Spirit (see Galatians 5:22-23).
We are either fruit-bearing or non-fruit-bearing. There is no in-between. But the bearing of healthy fruit requires drastic pruning. The Lord promises that we will bear much fruit if we abide in him and allow him to purify us.
Lord Jesus, may I be one with you. Draw me close that I may glorify you and bear fruit for your kingdom. Remove anything that would make me ineffective or unfruitful in loving and serving you. Amen.
( Don Schwager)