Daily Devotional Week of 1-14-2002

Monday 1-14-02

A SEASON FOR DORMANCY

Every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
- John 15:2b (NKJV)

The most important season for the grapevine is the winter season, when the vine is dormant. By now the vinedresser has cut back many of the canes, even those which have bore fruit in the previous season, leaving only the most promising canes. The leaves have dropped and from the appearance of the grape vine it is hard to believe that only a few short months ago it was heavy with luscious grapes and beautifully colored leaves. Though this period is called dormancy, the plant is far from inactive. While the plant is not producing leaves and fruit on the branches, inside the vine there is much work going.

It is much the same with the human body. While we are asleep the body does all its growing and reparative work. Without a period of dormancy the vine will not bear good fruit in the upcoming season.

When you find yourself in the midst of personal struggles or desert times and it seems that no matter how much you pray or read your Bible you feel spiritually dry and dead to God, do not despair. God is doing a deeper work in you. He is preparing you for the next season of fruit bearing. He is working within the inner sanctum of your heart readying you to bring forth even better fruit than the season before.

For further study: Matthew 13:22-23, Jeremiah 4:3-4

Tuesday 1-15-02

ABOUT FRUIT

That it may bear more fruit. John 15:2b (NKJV)

Jesus speaks repeatedly about the purpose of the branch to bear fruit. But what does fruit look like? How will we recognize it? First let's take a look at what fruit is not.

The Greek word translated "more" which Jesus uses in John 15:2 is the word "pleion" a superlative meaning more in quantity or quality, greater, or more excellent. First, God is the One who coaxes the fruit from the vine through His work as Vinedresser. The best vinedressers are not interested in quantity but in quality. Second, often we Christians get so caught up in the "doing" that we forsake the "abiding," the very thing that will result in the "pleion" of fruit in our lives that God wants us to produce. We get caught up in appearances, forsaking quality for quantity. Consider today what is the motivating factor for you in your Christian duties. Do you ever find yourself keeping a mental record of all the things you are involved in at church, all the people that you minister to? Ask God today whether He is pleased with the fruit that is being born on the branches of your life?

For further study: Philippians 2:12-13, Matthew 6:3-4

Wednesday 1-16-02

SANCTIFIED BY THE SON

You are already clean because of the word, which I have spoken to you.
- John 15:3 (NKJV)

The "last supper" is over, but Jesus has more to share with His apostles. After all, His time is drawing near. I like to imagine, as Bruce Wilkinson describes in his book Secrets of the Vine, that after dinner Jesus led His disciples out into a mountainside covered with grapevines to preach His final sermon before He laid Himself down on the cross.

Jesus just begins the allegory of the vine and the branches when He suddenly steps away from the allegory for a moment, looks directly at His apostles and states these words of reassurance - "you are already clean..." The terminology of the vine and branches was not unfamiliar to them. At least some were likely to have remembered John the Baptist calling out to his own followers, "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance...The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." Jesus wanted to reassure His disciples that they were the chosen branches; they were not in danger of judgment. He told them that it was He Himself who had made them clean. Nothing they had done or were able to do in their own strength had made them clean. Jesus had chosen them; they were in covenant relationship with Jesus. Give thanks to God today through Jesus Christ who has made you clean by the power of His wonderful word.

For further study: Exodus 40:30-32, John 13:6-9

Thursday 1-17-02

ABIDING IN CHRIST

Abide in Me, and I in you. John 15:4a(NKJV)

Jesus' last words to His loved one's, His disciples, were to instill in them comfort, understanding, and especially purpose. God has one plan - grow His vineyard, i.e. build His kingdom. But our God is not an impersonal, hands off Sovereign - He is more like a vinedresser, who lovingly cares for each of His vines and with His very own hands coaxes them to bear fruit that is pleasing to Him. That seems to be what Jesus is conveying in John 15. God sent Jesus to accomplish His work and convey the Vinedresser's secrets for growing the most beautiful, most delightful, most bountiful vineyard. The first vine (Israel) failed, but under God's new Covenant with His people this one cannot fail because the vine stock is the Root of Jesse, which grew up and was planted in the heart of every believer by the Holy Spirit. If you are in Christ you were appointed to bear fruit, fruit that lasts. Give thanks to God through Christ for planting you in His garden of delight.

For further study: Ezekiel 36:26-27

Friday 1-18-02

THE ESSENCE OF FRUIT

The branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine
...John 15:4b (NKJV)

A few days ago we discovered the kind of fruit God is looking for in our lives is not necessarily defined in quantity but quality. But what about the essence of the fruit: what does good fruit look like, feel like, and taste like? What are the qualities of the fruit grown from the vine of Christ?

One of our clues comes from Luke 3:8 where we find the words of John the Baptist prophesying to the crowd to "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance." These Jews were undoubtedly confused about what John meant by fruit, but they wanted to avert the judgment that John also spoke about when he said, "The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire."

After hearing this the Jews asked, "What should we do then?" In response John gives some very specific examples of the kind of fruit that is produced by repentance: John exhorted the crowds to love mercy - give to those in need; and to act justly - treat people fairly and not accuse people falsely. In other words, obey God's commands. True fruit of the vine of Christ is produced from a changed heart. Take inventory of the fruit of your life today and ask yourself, "is this the fruit of a changed heart or the fruit of self-promotion?"

For further study: Luke 3:7-14

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