Wednesday, November 24, 2021

No More Houseplants!

 “A branch cannot bear fruit by itself, it can only do so if it remains in the vine. In the same way, you cannot bear fruit unless you remain in me.” 



The purpose of any vine is to bear fruit! And if we are growing from the vine that is Christ, we should all be bearing similar fruits as we walk with Jesus. Are you a picture of “love, joy, & peace?” When people think of you, do they think of Jesus also?


We know a pumpkin is a pumpkin by some of its basic characteristics… round, orange, segmented with a stem on top… unless you go into Hobby Lobby and they are all mint green this year.  But like a pumpkin, we should know a Christ-follower when we see one. Is she loving? Is her speech pleasing to the ears? Does she show patience to her friends and family? 


If you will, picture a two-story house with green branches bursting out the doors and all the windows. They are spiraling and leafy and full.  The front door is pushed wide open to make way for the vining branches to spill out into the yard. The house cannot contain them anymore and they spiral out any openings they can to the outside.  


In this way, our growing life in Christ is this picture!


 We cannot contain the fruits we are bearing, for Jesus said, “ My Father’s glory is shown by you bearing much fruit, and in this way, you become my disciples.” We are an extension of Him to this world. John 13:35 says, “if you have love for one another, then everyone will know that you are my disciples.”


To contrast, many Christ-followers are a similar 2-story house. The difference is that their vines might only look like house plants. They remain inside on the window sill, and the front door is tightly shut.  They walk with Jesus privately, but others may not even know it.  Their speech, behavior, and habits do not always point to Christ. There aren’t any overwhelming character traits that show they are connected to the vine. A passerby may notice a silhouette of a vine from one angle, but not enough to make an impression.


In time, I hope you are more like that first house. Others know you love Jesus because of the outpouring of gifts and deeds in your life.  Your positive qualities reflect those of your Maker. All of our journeys are on different paths but I hope you find that as time marches on, the deepening of your walk with God, opens every window and door of your self, to allow a vine of abundant fruits to come bursting out….remember  “A branch cannot bear fruit by itself; it can do so only if it remains in the vine.”


So, Remain in Jesus! Move closer to Him! Walk daily, hourly, and momentarily with Him. Be a practitioner of His presence. 


No more house plants! Grow them into vines, so that others know who He is, because of knowing you!

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