“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit.” John 15:5 (NIV) Humans don’t do well if they think their life is pointless and unproductive. We want something good to come from our lives; we want to be fruitful. This is how God made us. When he put Adam and Eve in the Garden he told them to “be fruitful” (Gen. 1:28). We were made to produce good things and our soul will feel empty if we can’t do so.
Moreover, we have a desire for deep fruitfulness. We don’t just want to build buildings, farm for food, or invent new medicines, although these are all good pursuits for fruitfulness. We also want to be fruitful in the hearts of others. We want to help satisfy the deeper desires for joy and peace in human hearts.
In this teaching, Jesus knows we want to be fruitful and he wants to fulfill that desire. If we abide in him, in other words, abide in faith and obedience, then we will bear fruit. Not just any fruit, but the deeper fruit of connecting to people’s hearts and being channels of God’s peace and joy for them. Other than experiencing God himself, what greater joy can we have than seeing God use us transform people through us?
How much do you want to be fruitful? How fruitful do you think you are? What can you do to be more fruitful?
Seven seekers explore matters of the heart and spirit that are rarely, if ever, discussed. They hash out the most important matters of the Christian life. What is your ultimate purpose? (Hint: “Heaven” is not the answer.)
