By Amy Schones
It’s one thing to know something in principle, and yet another in practice. Jesus said, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15: 4-5 ESV).
Do you believe the promise that Jesus gave, that in Him you can bear much fruit? His Word is true, yet at certain times, and in certain areas of our lives, we can feel barren. In those times we can harbor doubt thinking, “Lord, can’t you see?” or “Where are you, Lord?”
In the Old Testament, Sarah was unable to conceive a child, which caused her much grief. God promised she would in fact bear a child in her old age. She had her doubts; yet in the end, she believed God's promise for her. “By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised” (Hebrews 11:11 ESV).
By abiding in Christ we are promised that we bear much fruit. Abiding is yielding to Him. As we meditate upon Him, read His Word, we delight in Him and find our rest. We cannot produce our own spiritual fruit; yet as we remain in Him, spiritual fruit will be produced.
“...but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers" (Psalm 1:2-3 ESV).
As we are growing in Christ and yielding to Him, we can trust God’s “ripening” process. All life is from the branch, and, in time fruits of the Spirit will come forth in our lives.