Fruit that Lasts

“I am the true vine and My Father is the vinedresser.”

John 15:1

“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly, I say to you, that he will make him ruler over all his goods. But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming.’ And beings to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Matthew 24:45-51

                What does this have to do with the vine and the vinedresser? The evil servant believes that his master is not coming back. So he takes on the mantle of authority and behaves wickedly and brutally towards his fellow servants. He honestly thinks that his authority is his own. But the righteous servant walks in holiness, expecting, even looking forward to the day when his master returns.

                Can’t the branch be the same way, thinking that it can be self-sufficient and do everything on its own strength, without the intervention of the vine? But it can’t. I mean, I can’t. I am the branch, the wild olive branch that has been graffed into the true vine. Apart from the vine, all I am is. . .well, a wild olive branch. Jesus says, I am the vine. Your identity, your worth, your status and your fruit, it’s all wrapped up in Me. Who I am and ever hope to be is completely dependant on my position in Jesus Christ. I may have noble aspirations but they can never be realized apart from the vine. I may desire to be virtuous or do good but without the Lord, I am incapable of overcoming my flesh and attaining that which I desire. I may be able to fool people with a masquerade of who I want them to believe I am; I may be able to perform humanitarian works. And I may do it in Jesus name. But if it is done apart from Him, the fruit won’t last. And that’s what it’s all about, right? Lasting fruit?

“For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. IF anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.”

1 Corinthians 3:11-15

                Wood, hay and stubble can make a building, but when it’s tested with fire, it’s gonna burn. The work won’t last.  A house made of sand may look like a castle but it’s no match for the winds of a hurricane or the tidal waves of a monsoon. But if the Rock is Christ and the work is of the Spirit, if the source of life is the true vine, I will stand strong and bear fruit to eternal life.

Application: Today I will spend 15 minutes alone, just me and the Lord, knowing that He is my source.