The Pursuit of Fruit

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me” (John 15:4).

One morning while the washing machine cha-rugged the clothes clean, a knock sounded at my back door. A neighbor lady surprised me with a bag of homegrown apples. She said that when giving away the fruit, in return she asks only that others enjoy it. I gratefully hefted her gift into my home.

Lately I have been obsessed with fruit—the spiritual kind. How could I be more fruitful? How could I bring more glory to God?

Wanting answers, I jumped into research mode. I listened to sermons about fruit; I studied applicable Bible passages and commentaries on them; I discussed fruit with others; I prayed. Finally, I found the key: Forget the fruit.

Although I may pray for fruitfulness, my focus must be on abiding in Christ; He is responsible for producing the fruit.  

I knew that abiding in Christ involved regularly reading and heeding the Word of God, praying, communing with Christ—reasonable responsibilities. But the more I examined abiding, the more I understood that it is much more than what I do—it is who I am. Abiding affects my motives, my mind-set, my all. 

As a writer, I also have reasonable responsibilities—studying the craft, producing words, polishing them. But I need to undertake even these tasks, knowing that God must enable me—without Him I can do nothing. Abiding is about continuously cultivating my relationship with Christ and recognizing my dependence on Him. In other words, if I want to be a fruitful branch for the Master Gardener, I must abide in the Vine. 

That morning when the bag of apples arrived, I had been focusing on my household responsibilities. It works the same way in the spiritual realm. When I focus on abiding in Christ, He produces the fruit.