Read John 14:5-8. Circle the words that stand out to you. What is the Lord saying to you?
5 “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.
Reflections on the Word.
How able and capable are you? Have you achieved a high school, college, or graduate degree? What’s your current vocational status and job title? What is your next move to move upward? Family, friends, teachers, the world tells us we can do anything if we set our minds to it. “We can do it!” is our attitude.
Jesus says this about our ability and capability, “If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (NIV).
As one thinks about the phrase, “apart from me you can do nothing,”, the text is not saying that a believer or person is helpless or incapable of any activity. The text is stating that one can’t produce spiritual fruit. Spiritual fruit comes from the spiritual Vine. If a person is not abiding in the Vine, that person can’t do any effective spiritual work at all. The efforts of the flesh will produce deeds of the flesh, not of the Spirit (Gal. 5:19-21).
The condition for fruitfulness is remaining or abiding in Christ. What a privilege that the Vine will produce godliness in our lives that will have an impact on others. It is His power that will enable us to fulfill His work. We just need to be open and willing. He takes all the responsibility and glory of His work since we are just vessels which accomplish His will.
Imagine how God can use each of us to impact His Kingdom and the people who are around us. God wants to produce good fruit through our lives to not only transform us, but also the lives of those around us. Let’s be excited and filled with anticipation to see what He will do through us! Abide in Christ so that Christ can be seen through us.
-Kingston