I think that one of my favorite chapters in the Bible is John 15. It begins with the vine and branches, migrates into how the world hates the disciples and ends with the work of the Spirit. Though they may have three different titles, they are all about abiding.
Charles Swindoll says that to “abide” with God (the vinedresser) is being at home with him. I love this translation for it feels warm, connected … it feels like a choice.
Indeed, abiding is a choice.
Often the verse of focus is John 15:5 :
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you are at home with me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing …”
But verse 8, where Jesus says how it will be known if we are at home with him is equally important :
“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”
An apple tree cannot produce oranges, A grape vine cannot produce tomatoes. And a branch that is intwined with others, but not attached (not at home with) the vine, produces nothing of the fruit of that vine.
Though we may produce fruit in our lives, it is only because we are attached to the vine … at home with God.
I was remembering recently at time when, as a teenager, I met someone, who was sure he knew me from somewhere. He asked where I worked, and I told him I worked at Tim Horton’s. His eyes lit up, as he then named the location where I worked. He said that he went there frequently and always knew I was a Christian because of how I treated the customers.
As I remembered that story I found myself wondering … is whose I am still evident to a stranger? Can strangers identify me by the fruit of how I live my life? can family and friends?
is it obvious that I am at home with Christ?
I can only hope that the fruit of my living is Him. This comes only as I allow Him to produce the fruit of my connection to Him.
There are many who claim that name of Christ, but the fruit of their lives does not indicate that they are at home with the Lord. Our fruit is in what we say and also in what we do. We know this, because we can easily see the contradictions in their lives.
The most evident fruit of the spirit of God is love … if what we see from ourselves or others who claim the name of Christ is not love … they are not at home with Christ.
“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:35
“God didn’t want me to do more for Him.
He wanted me to be more with Him.”
― Bruce H. Wilkinson, Secrets of the Vine: Breaking Through to Abundance
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