Key Scripture:
John 15:15b. … He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; …
Key Idea:
A law can compel work: only love can spontaneously bring forth fruit. Work implies effort and labor: the essential idea of fruit is that it is the silent natural restful produce of our inner life.
— Murray
Pray for revelation:
I pray you, take time and ask the Holy Spirit to give you to realize the unspeakably solemn place you occupy in the mind of God. He has planted you into His Son with the calling and the power to bear much fruit. Accept that place. Look much to God, and to Christ, and expect joyfully to be what God has planned to make you, a fruitful branch.Much fruit! So be it, blessed Lord Jesus. It can be, for Thou art the Vine. It shall be, for I am abiding in Thee. It must be, for Thy Father is the Husbandman
that cleanses the branch. Yea, much fruit, out of the abundance of Thy grace.
— Murray
Key words:
Much Fruit,
Abundance.
The order and purpose of the branches, vine and farmer have been well established in the preceding verses. A plant is what it is. As humans, we are not plants. The model spoken of is a word picture, and example of being part of God’s kingdom. As humans, we have the option to choose.
When choosing to be part of God’s plan, we are branches. We produce fruit. Not because of anything that we do. Our only real work is staying attached to the vine, and letting the production take place through us.
That’s it. All that is needed to produce fruit, and do it abundantly, is to abide, remain, stay attached. Accept the pruning of the master farmer.
You can still have a life. You can still wave freely in the breeze and enjoy the sunshine. Just stay attached, and realize that your abundant products are only because the farmer is working the vine. The true vine is working through you.