Three Simple Steps to Bearing Fruit

I know that nowadays it's hard for us concentrate for more than 10 seconds on anything, hence why vine videos are so popular. But take a minute to read this passage from John 15. After I've noted down some of my own thoughts.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 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. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 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.

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 meand 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.

9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.

Why is it that as Christians we really struggle to see the difference God is making in our lives? I know personally, I feel that a lot of the time pretty distant from God and a rather poor representative for Him. But why?

In this passage in John, Jesus gives us three commands:

1) "Remain in me"

2) "Obey my commands"

3) "love each other"

He also highlights the result of following these simple guidelines:

"This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples"

There is evidence to living a life with God. Fruit. The fruit of the Spirit! Clear godly characteristics that will shine through in our lives as a result of following these 3 instructions. There's a good chance that if you're struggling to see fruit - it's because you're not doing one of these things. I know that's my case anyway.

I challenge you to focus on these 3 things, and

  God will radically change you.