“I am the Real Vine and my Father is the Farmer. He cuts off every branch of me that doesn’t bear grapes. And every branch that is grape-bearing he prunes back so it will bear even more. You are already pruned back by the message I have spoken.“
What it means to “bear fruit”?!
The Bible talks, mostly, about 2 kinds of fruit: The friut of the Spirit that is: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Wich are manifestations of a healthy character, treated by the Sipirit.
The other fruit can be the results of sharing the Gospel with other: Repent and salvation!
Jesus talks about the “harvest” a lot of times, like when He explains the bad and good soil for the seed of His Word (Mathew 13).
Both begins internally, by the work of the Holy Spirit! One works imediatelly by repent and recognition of Jesus as Lord and Savior. The other is a long-term process, where the Sipirit treat and build our character, through the Word of God and a close relationship with Him!
So, SALVATION =The harvest fruit. Treated character= Fruits of the Spirit.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.“
Remain: That’s one of the biggest challenges our lives as followers of Jesus! Salvation is just the first step of a long and amazing journey. Only those who remain until the end will achieve all the PROMISES and giflts from the Lord, in this life and in the next!
Jesus said that are different soils(hearts) that receive His SEED. Only tthe good soil bears a great harvest! That means that there are a lot of people who receive the Word of God in their hearts but, during the hardship of the journey, they go astray. Why? Because it is not easy to follow Jesus! It is totally worthy, but also challenging and unconfortable, if you compare it with the life we are used to live before Christ!
Remain in the right way means that we will accept with faith all the trials, renounces and suffferings of the way with PERSEVERANCE and we will OBEY, no matter what!
Only those who grows a strong FAITH, by a constant relationship with the Father and His Word, will achieve the promised land, that God prepared for those who love Him.
Remain in Christ is to walk with the eyes of faith, not with humam eyes, looking to Him, not the circumstances. Only then you are able to obey without being stuck by fear. Like He said, “If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.” To obey you need to believe, otherwise, the directions and plans of God to your life will seems just craziness, non sense!
“I’m no longer calling you servants because servants don’t understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I’ve named you friends because I’ve let you in on everything I’ve heard from the Father.“
How amazing is to hear the voice of God to know His plans beforehand? Only close friends have this privilege! If you seek God with all your heart and soul, He will call you ‘friend’!
“You didn’t choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won’t spoil. As fruit bearers, whatever you ask the Father in relation to me, he gives you.”
I feel so encouraged and loved when I read this: Jesus chose me! And if you believe in Him already, that means He chose you too! Only the Holy Spirit can convince us about the truth of the Gospel ,it is impossible to believe by rational arguments!
We are called to believe with our hearts, with a deep conviction in our spirit! It is not human work! Only when we are touched by the Spirit, we can trully SURRENDER our lives to Jesus and call Him Lord!
“But remember the root command: Love one another.”
The process begins with salvation, but only a constant and deep walk with Jesus make us able to love one another like He did. I mean, really love! That means that we gonna live a sacrificial lifestyle with no regrets, because Jesus put a new heart in every one of us!
I hope this reflection brings some light and encouragement to you like it did for me! That’s all friends. Stay connected to the Vine! =)
I was lost. His love found me! 