Monday Memo 362: Nice Fruit

Have you ever heard anyone quote John 15 where Jesus said that apart from Him you can do nothing? I heard my pastor say it the other night and some people responded "Amen," as well they should. It is a truth that we need to hear as we seek to fulfill our purpose and be productive. Did you know, however, that the opposite of what Jesus said is also true? What do I mean by that? You know by now I won't give you any hints, otherwise you won't have any incentive to read on.

THE OPPOSITE IS TRUE

So if Jesus said that apart from Him you can do nothing, isn't it true that in Him you can do anything? Alright, maybe not everything, but something? Let's look at the entire passage and you'll see what I mean:

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples (John 15:1-8).

Jesus said if you don't abide in Him you can't do anything; if you do, however, you will bear much fruit. If you don't, you are a useless branch and will be pruned and burned. Of course, if you are fruitful, you will also be pruned and burned, but that is so you will bear more fruit. That is another message for another time. Did you also notice that if you abide in Jesus, you can ask for whatever you wish and it will be given to you? So while the warning of what you can't do without Jesus is real, what you can do is much more prevalent in this passage.

NICE FRUIT OR REAL FRUIT?

Many people are content with bearing fruit in the context of holiness, which is very often not bearing bad fruit, which we equate with sinful behavior. They want to bear "nice fruit." They believe if they don't get impatient, for example, then they are bearing good fruit, fruit of the Spirit even. Yet I would argue that we have our concept of fruit all mixed up.

Let's continue to reflect on patience. Do you think God wants you to develop patience where His purpose for you is concerned? Do you think if your purpose is to save orphans, that God wants you to be patient with child abuse, slavery or exploitation? Instead of bearing fruit by opening orphanages, you think good fruit is not doing anything and then you call that patience? Do you think that is what Jesus was teaching in John 15? I don't. Do you think you will find or accomplish your purpose without offending someone who doesn't want you to do what God wants? I don't.

I would argue that so many people are worried about doing something that isn't the will of God that they often miss what they could do. Perhaps that's not true in your life, but it's sure been true in mine. I have been so cautious that I have missed many opportunities and then I didn't pray for as much as I could because I did not want to pray for too much. Crazy thinking, isn't it?

So what fruit are you bearing since you are in Jesus and His words have made you clean? What are you praying and doing with the results of those prayers? How lofty are your goals? How ambitious your plans to change the world, or at least your world?

I urge you to study John 15 this week not for the warning of what happens when you don't abide, but from the perspective of what will happen when you do. Then get out there and bear some fruit that is consistent with being connected to the Lord of the universe. By doing so, you will glorify God and show yourself to be good disciples. Have a great week!

Feel free to comment on this entry on the site where it is posted.

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CONTRIBUTIONS: It's been a slow summer. If you can contribute to my ministry, please do so at my website using PayPal or send a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 91099, Pittsburgh, PA 15221. Thank you.

Comments

[Cindy]

I agree with the reversed curse. I have believed for a long time that the curse was broken when the Holy Spirit fell in Acts 2 and people could understand because they were speaking in their own tongue. The spirit can enable us to speak in a language that we do not know.
Thanks for the Monday Memo!

[Sharon Tan]

Thank you. This is a wonderful message. Indeed, it is a common doubt for some of us that we are being too cautious to attempt a challenge without truly knowing what lies ahead especially when it is something that involves $$$!