Illustration by: I.D.X'pressions Designs and Services
There are those who feel that they must be constantly laboring for the Lord in order to meet God's high standards. Jesus gave a clear picture of what our relationship to Him ought to be like. He is the VINE, the source of our life. We are the BRANCHES, the place where FRUIT is produced. As we receive life from Christ, the natural, inevitable results is that fruit is produced in our lives.
In our zeal to produce "results" for our Lord, we sometimes become so intent on fruit production that we neglect abiding in Christ. We may feel that "abiding" is not as productive or that it takes too much time away from our fruit production. Yet Jesus said that it is not our activity that produces the fruit, it is our relationship with Him.
Jesus gave an important warning to His disciples. He cautioned that if they ever attempted to live their Christian life apart from an intimate relationship with Him, they would discover that they ceased to produce any significant results. Sometimes we might exert great effort for the Kingdom of God, yet when we stop to account for our lives, we would only find barrenness (emptiness) a hole in our soul, our hope will fade.
One of the most dramatic acts Jesus ever performed was cursing the fig tree that had failed to produce fruit in it's due season. Are you comfortable in abiding on the VINE? or are you so impatient to be engaged in all types of activities, trying to impress God and others?
this is truth:
If you will remain steadfastly in a sweet fellowship with Jesus, a great and mighty HARVEST of FRUIT will be our natural by-product.;
My Prayer: Lord, keep us in a intimate relationship with you, keep us with an all-knowing that you are our supernatural source that is able to nourish us daily. Let us produce the fruit that is pleasing to you, let it be sweet to your taste and satisfaction. Seek us Lord, Seek our hearts expediently when self is tempted to satisfy fleshly hunger. Keep us in rememberance that there is absolutely nothing we can do productively for the Kingdom of God without Your guidance.
We Love You Lord with our whole hearts.....amen
