FRUIT FROM THE ROOT
March 14, 2022
Prayer: Lord, may we bear glorifying fruit that flows from the root of abiding in Your love. Amen
Scripture: If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. John 15:7-11 NAS
Last week we talked about what it means to abide and how abiding impacts your prayers. Today we continue by talking about the results of abiding. These few verses spell out several powerful results of abiding in Him. As we mentioned before, it will allow His life to flow through ours, changing our desires, so that we are given whatever we ask. Secondly, abiding glorifies God. When His life flows through us, it not only changes our thoughts, but it also changes our attitudes and actions. The fruit of the Spirit springs from our lips and lives like fruit on a branch. When the Holy Spirit dwells in us and we stay connected to His Word and ways, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23)
When we abide, the Spirit in us cannot hide and God is glorified.
Abiding also assures that our fruit is sweet and draws other people to Him. When a disciple of Jesus exhibits real peace, real joy, real kindness, etc… other people want what they have. The world is seeking love, joy, and peace in all the wrong places. They jump from religion to religious practice to a bottle, through one relationship after another, seeking what only the “true vine” can give to them.
Thirdly, we realize that obedience follows abiding. You cannot disobey God and abide at the same time. Sin puts distance and disconnection between the branch and the vine. I am not saying it is severed, but the life-giving nourishment cannot flow into a sick branch; in other words, the blessing is blocked. Obedience to God’s commands becomes more and more natural as the flesh yields to faith and the branch draws nearer to the vine. Remember, desires change as we abide. Lifestyles change when we abide. It is not a legalistic obedience, but an obedience that flows out of our love, faith, and appreciation to Him. We surrender because we know that we can trust Him, we obey because we know His ways flow out of His love for us.
That is what it means to abide in His love: when we finally reach a point of understanding that His commands are for us, not against us. His boundaries protect us, even better than our rules protect and provide for a safe & fruitful classroom. His commands allow us to experience life and joy to the fullest!
Prayer lesson: All fruit comes from the root. From the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks (Luke 6:45). Every thought, word, and deed has a root. The fruit may be bitter: springing from a root of pride or pain, or the fruit may be sweet: springing up from the flow of the Spirit in you. As you yield, the Spirit fills. Spending time in prayer, taking every thought captive, and examining it through the lens of God’s word, will allow your life to be filled with joy that bears much fruit.
Copyright Kathy Branzell. To connect with the author, email [email protected]
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Thank you! A dear friend and I pray for each other, checking in weekly, and this has been one of our prayers over time. To abide in our Lord is such a beautiful, life changing mindset.