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, as I also 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 you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 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. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
~ John 15:1-8 ~
A key part of our faith, as we are reminded in the book of James, is walking in the faith. This simply means that we not only say we are Christians but also do which Christ says (1 Pet. 2:21, 1 Jon. 2:4). Our belief does not simply say that we can just raise our hand stating “I believe”, checking a box, and going on with our lives as though nothing has happened. Many of the things we are concerned by do not necessarily produce good, or any, fruit. We cannot look into a mirror and then forget who we are; neither can we read the Word, call ourselves Christians, and then do not do what Christ commands (Jam. 1:22-25).
In order for us to remain in the vine we must remain in the vine. That sentence seems obvious, and yet in our life how often do we do things that are opposing to the way the vine grows? Apart from Christ, “we can do nothing” because we will die. Before Christ, we were dead in our sins. How, then, can we think we can go on living our lives without Him? Our sin will consume us and we will wither like a branch with no access to water. Instead, we must remain in Christ, for He supports us and gives us life (Rom. 11:17-20). Remaining in the vine is remaining in Christ. This is done and encouraged by reading His word, being steadfast in prayer, and communing in fellowship (Heb. 3:13, 10:24-25).
If we remain in Him, we will bear much fruit for our Father’s glory and we will not wither in our sin.
Blessings to you and yours,
~Rose
The Fingerprints of God 