Growin’ Good Fruit

Well, now, friend, come on off this front porch and wander with me out to this quiet patch of yard over by the purty windspinners where the morning dew is glistenin’ like heaven spilled a jar of diamonds, and the birds are chirpin’ like they are rehearsin’ for a big Sunday service. Let’s stand for a spell under this old pecan tree that leans like it’s listenin’ in. Sometimes you need a spot like this to remember that Jesus was not kiddin’ one bit when He said in John 15:4, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can you.” That right there’s the whole secret to a fruitful life, tucked into one lil’ ol’ simple sentence.

Now, look right here, friend, it’s mighty easy to go to forgittin’ that the fruit grows on the branch but still comes from the main vine. We get to see all the fruit that’s hangin’ off our lives, and then, we start struttin’ ‘round like an ol’ rooster that thinks he plumb invented the sunrise with his crowin’ talent. But the very moment we start to thinkin’ it’s our own holiness or our own strength that produced anything good, we done stepped away from the main Vine. And a branch that steps away from the main Vine dries up quicker than a tadpole in the August heat.

But here’s the real good news that’ll make your heart breathe a whole lot easier. The pressure just ain’t  on you. It’s on Jesus. Your job ain’t to be strainin’, gruntin’, an’ groanin’ like a branch tryin’ to squeeze out a grape. Your job is to be stayin’ real connected. Hebrews 4:11 says, “We are to labor to enter His rest,” which is just a fancy way of sayin’ cling to Jesus like a lil’ ol’ baby possum clings to its mama. When you abide in Him, fruit is gonna’ be showin’ up naturally. Peace is gonna be growin’. Joy is gonna’ be growin’. Patience is gonna’ be growin’. You ain’t gotta’ be forcin’ it at all. It just flows plumb naturally.

Just like John 15:5 is tellin’ us, “I am the Vine and you are the branches. He who abides in me and I in him bears much fruit, for without Me you can do nothing.” Your real best life is found only in Him. Just like a fish belongs in the water and a branch belongs in the vine, you belong clingin’ real tight on to Jesus. Stayin’ close to Him is where your strength, holiness, and purpose come from.

Father, help me stay connected to You. Remind me that every good thing in my life comes from Your life flowin’ through me. Teach me to be restin’ in You, trustin’ You, and clingin’ to You every single day. Let Your fruit grow in me as I keep abidin’ in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Now, goodness gracious, friend, as you start to headin’ on back toward the porch and git to brushin’ some o’ that there grass off your britches, be keepin’ in mind that the branch that stays hitched to the main Vine ain’t never gotta be panicin’ ‘bout fruit. It just receives it. It just rests. It just grows. And when you keep on stayin’ connected to Jesus, even them lil’ ol’ squirrels way up yonder in the trees would take to pausin’ their fussin’ with each other like they done already know somethin’ mighty holy is sho’-nuff takin’ deep down roots in your life.

With joy,

Gwen