Lasting Fruit
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. John 15:16
Insight
Have you ever struggled at showing up - as a friend, as a spouse, as a brother or sister, as a parent, or even as a follower of Christ? Yup, we are going there already! It’s been easy not to show up over the last year. So much has happened with the pandemic and life going on during it that we may feel like we are disappointing the people around us.
To be “appointed” is to be assigned a role. In this verse above, Jesus is assigning the role of fruit-bearers to His disciples before His death on the cross. He alludes to this coming death later in John 16. Prior to this, in John 15, Jesus is urging His disciples to recognize the importance of abiding in Him. Abiding is a theme that we encounter throughout the chapter. Jesus talks about belonging to Him and remaining in His love. As followers of Jesus, abiding or remaining in Him may be a familiar concept, but I would venture to say that many of us have not taken the time to meditate on what that means. It is something we are repeatedly called to, by Jesus Himself. So, what does it even mean? What does it look like practically?
In John 15:1, Jesus says, “I am the vine, and my Father is the gardener.” And then in verse 4, “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.”
To abide in Jesus is to remain in Him - the vine - so that we - the branches - can bear His fruit. His fruit is lasting fruit. His fruit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
When I think about the times that I have failed at showing up as a wife, sister, daughter, and friend, I am faced with the grim realization that I haven’t been abiding in Christ. Since I have not been regularly abiding in Him, I haven’t been regularly producing His fruit. Instead, I’m producing quite the opposite with frustration, anger, impatience, and rudeness. Blegh - that’s ugly, but for myself and others it can be reality.
When I recognize the times that I have failed at living as one appointed, I am faced with the realization that I’m simply not spending the time that is necessary with Jesus. Abiding in Jesus requires spending time with Him - every day, sometimes multiple times a day.
I came across a quote on social media last week that said, “If I am too busy to spend time with God, then I am busier than He intends me to be.” Big AMEN to that!
Correcting our behavior to abide in Jesus requires honesty with ourselves. If there is anything or anyone that we are putting before spending time with Him, then we need to recognize it and correct it quickly. Sometimes that looks like an hourly check in. Sometimes it’s a daily check in. Sometimes it’s listening to the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit beckoning us to spend time with Him.
We have all been called to abide in Jesus. Not just to be familiar with the idea of it, but to live in the reality of it.
Reflection
Where do you find yourself failing to show up in your life?
How can you stay disciplined in abiding in Jesus?
What are some things you put ahead of spending time with Jesus?
Prayer
Thank you, Jesus, for Your grace that meets us right where we are at, every single time. I pray that we would open our hearts to You, so that you may continue to remind us through Your Holy Spirit to return to abiding in You. Let us be honest fruit bearers for the kingdom, every day. It’s in Your name we pray, Jesus. Amen.
Port City writer Sarah Banks wrote today’s devotional.
