If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit. (John 15:5)
I love this season…late spring, full of the promises of summer: warm and sunny weather, swimming outdoors, the beach, cookouts…and yes, fresh vegetables and fruit! Strawberries, watermelon, peaches…there’s nothing like summer produce fresh off branches and vines. Summer is usually a time where we kick back and relax, vacation, enjoy life…right? Well, yes…and no. Jesus does call us to rest every now and then. Yet he also calls us to BEAR FRUIT.
BUT WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
Here’s what Google says: “To ‘bear fruit’ is an idiom that means to produce positive results or successes, especially after a period of effort or work.” Okay, I get that. But what about “bearing fruit” in the biblical context? Let’s take a look at the rest of John 5: Jesus says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples…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. This is my command: Love each other.”
BUT WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR ME?
Upon reflection, I think we need to ask ourselves, What “fruit” am I being called to bear? What am I being asked, specifically, by God to be, to do? Well, if Jesus says we’re called to be His desciples, to bring lost sheep to Him, to serve and love others, then I think we need to ask ourselves, what CAN we do to fulfill who He wants us to be? What is our chosen and appointed purpose here and now, what are our labors to fulfill it, and what fruit are we hoping to bear? For me, I remind myself it is to help others, in a loving manner, to write, edit, publish and market their own books through my coaching services, AND to write my next book for His glory, AND to make the movie He has called me to make, AND to love and serve my family and friends. I believe my “fruit” right here and now (besides my beautiful grandkids) is producing books and a movie that carry His messages to others. What’s your fruit? Are you in the process of bearing it?
BUT WHAT IF I DON’T WANT TO RIGHT NOW?
I am coaching a writing student who is consistently facing writer’s block. Writing a book, whether it be a novel, memoir, non-fiction book or book of devotionals or poetry, is daunting for the best of us. I found myself giving her my typical advice…plan and schedule writing time into your daily calendar at a time where you are most productive (fruitful) and stick to it with no distractions. And then it dawned on me…I needed to follow my own advice! I usually love writing in the dead of winter when nothing outside beckons. NOT in late spring or summer when the weather is gorgeous (and again, I want to rest, relax and vacation!) But…God has been calling me to finish the novel I’ve been working on for YEARS. He is calling me NOW to BEAR FRUIT.
OK…BUT I NEED HELP!
Jesus immediately sent the Holy Spirit (the Helper) to His disciples after He left the earth. In fact, this happened on a day we now call the “Pentecost” which commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles, marking the birth of the Church…which we celebrate this June 8th! What better time than now to summon His help as we are still in the Easter Season, spreading the good news? If we are called to be His disciples, then we are entitled to ask for help from the Helper! I often ask the Holy Spirit to help me when I am not particularly feeling like working to bear fruit (like right now, writing this blog!) How to access the Holy Spirit? He is within us, all around us, and all we need to do is summon Him, pray for Him to abide in us and help us bear great fruit. Whatever our job, our efforts today, “Ask and You shall receive!” I believe I actually saw and felt the Holy Spirit while I was in the Holy Land two years ago…as a dove alighting in a church window, as I outstretched my hands to the sun in worship, as I renewed my baptism in the Jordan River. All I know is that if I pray for His help, I usually am more productive.
Dear Holy Spirit, please enter me and work through me so I can bear much fruit!
