Remaining in Christ Brings Fruitfulness
By Jessica Van Roekel
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.” - John 15:4 ESV
“You can’t separate us! We’re stuck like glue!” My daughter and her friend gripped hands when it was time to say goodbye. They enjoyed their time together so much that neither one of them wanted it to end. After several minutes of this, we had to leave. Tears fell, and promises made to see each other again filled the entryway.
How often do we treat our relationship with God like these two little girls did? Or do we go our own way after a brief meeting with God in the morning commute or after we read a short devotional like this one? I’ve done it. I’ve sat down in the morning to read the Word and commit to trusting God for my day. Then, I’ve gotten up, and something happens, and I completely forget about my decision to trust him.
John 15:4 gives us the secret to a long-lasting and fruitful relationship with God. To abide means to remain, continue, or live. Just as a branch can only receive life when it is attached to the vine, we can only fully live when we remain in Christ. To live in Christ is to have all the benefits of knowing him. We can have his righteousness, his mercy, his grace, and his ability to forgive. He gives us his strength to resist conforming to the world and empowers us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.
Doubt and disappointment come. Trials overtake us. The consequences of poor choices don’t disappear. We can let their influence cause us to separate from the vine, or we can “stick like glue” to our Savior and determine that nothing will separate us from God. The Apostle Paul reminds us of our security in Christ in Romans 8:35-39.
Painful separations are part of this life. Friends leave. Parents abandon their children. Children reject their parents. Church leaders lead out of ego instead of servanthood. Careers are lost. But one thing remains, and that is God’s great love for us. We can count on Jesus. He never lets go. His grip remains strong. Abiding in him is our place of security.
Our choice is whether we remain in him and bear fruit. To bear fruit means we cultivate an active relationship with God through prayer, reading the Bible, and doing what he says. Praying involves talking to Jesus, listening to him, and receiving his strength for our day-to-day activities. When we read the Bible, we get to know God’s heart for us and understand him more and more. Choosing to reorient our life around what pleases him demonstrates our love for him. Romans 12:2 tells us,
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Abiding in Christ is key to life transformation. This world holds much pressure and temptation to fit into its mold. God calls us not to conform to the world but to transform in him.
It is easy to stand in the way of what God wants to do in our life, but when we decide to abide in him, we put ourselves aside and let his life flow through us to produce transformation in our lives. We can be “stuck like glue” to our heavenly Father and bear fruit for him.
Let’s pray:
Lord God,
Thank you that you made a way for us to be fully secure in your love. Help us abide in you and look to you for everything we need. Let us bear the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control as we trust in you. Our hearts are yours, Lord. We choose today to live for you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Jacob Wackerhausen
Related Resource: Instead of Doing More This Summer, Maybe You Need to Do Less
If you've been feeling tired, overwhelmed, depleted, or just quietly wondering where God is in the middle of a very full life — this episode is for you. And honestly? It might be for me too, because I'm recording this in one of those seasons myself.
Today we're doing something a little different. Instead of going deep in a passage, we're talking about what to do when deep feels like too much — when you need less, not more. Specifically, I'm walking you through one of my favorite practices for weary seasons: handwriting scripture.
Not typing it. Not scrolling past it. Actually writing it out, slowly, in your own hand — because something happens in your brain when you do that. The words land differently. They go deeper. And over time, they become part of that personal library of God's voice that the Holy Spirit can pull from when you need it most. That's what Psalm 119:11 means when it says I have hidden your word in my heart — it's scripture moving into your long-term memory, where it lives and stays even when you haven't opened your Bible in weeks.
I'm sharing the five verses I wrote out for myself today — and why each one hit me fresh even though I've known some of them for years. This episode is part of our How to Study the Bible Podcast, a show that brings life back to reading the Bible and helps you understand even the hardest parts of Scripture. If this episode helps you know and love God more, be sure to follow the How to Study the Bible Podcast on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
Originally published Wednesday, 19 July 2023.
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