To Be Fruitful
“I chose you and appointed you that you might go and bear fruit, fruit that will last.” John 15:16
When Jesus made the above statement, He was saying in essence, ‘Spend your life in pursuit of that which has lasting significance and eternal value!’
By fruit He means ‘The fruit of the Spirit – which is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.’ Galatians 5:22–23.
Those nine qualities describe the only life that is truly worth living.
Thankfully, we are not left to produce this kind of fruit by self-effort. Rather, Jesus said: ‘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… 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.’ John 15:1–5.
Jesus is here speaking to all Believers – ‘Every branch in Me.’ John 15:2.
The gardener is God. ‘My Father is the gardener.’ John 15:1.
His goal – For us to be ‘even more fruitful.’ Hohn 15:2.
The key to fruitfulness – Constant contact and intimacy with Jesus. – ‘If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit.’ John 15:5.
So, if you want to be more fruitful, draw closer to the Lord.