Dave and I made a quick trip for groceries yesterday morning. We had placed our order on-line, but I forgot a few things, so I ran in to get them while he collected our order.
I was on my way to the register when a grape display caught my eye. A few weeks back we had purchased a large container of red grapes, they were so crisp and tasty I wanted to get another one.
Good fruit!
This morning, I’m thinking about the good fruit that God produces in our lives. Love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, meekness, faith.
I was a Christian for a lot of years but had no peace. Worry was a big part of who I was. I worked hard to find peace. Occasionally I would find small moments of it but for the most part peace eluded me.
Peace isn’t the absence of conflict or struggles; instead, it is a clear focus while in the turmoil. Like King David says in Psalm 91:
“Live under the protection of God Most High and stay in the shadow of God All-Powerful. 2 Then you will say to the Lord, ‘You are my fortress, my place of safety; you are my God, and I trust you.‘ 3 The Lord will keep you safe from secret traps and deadly diseases. 4 He will spread his wings over you and keep you secure. His faithfulness is like a shield or a city wall. 5 You won’t need to worry about dangers at night or arrows during the day. 6 And you won’t fear diseases that strike in the dark or sudden disaster at noon.” Psalm 91:1-6 CEV
True peace, peace that comes from God, isn’t something we “work” to get. It is a natural outgrow of being attached to Jesus the living vine.
“ I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you stay joined to me, and I stay joined to you, then you will produce lots of fruit. But you cannot do anything without me. 6 If you don’t stay joined to me, you will be thrown away. You will be like dry branches that are gathered up and burned in a fire. 7 Stay joined to me and let my teachings become part of you. Then you can pray for whatever you want, and your prayer will be answered.” John 15:5-7 CEV
Jesus told his disciples that He was the vine, we are the branches and if we abide (stay joined) in Him we will bear fruit. Peace is some of the fruit that will grow while abiding in Him.
Producing fruit is a natural result for a healthy plant. Water, sunshine, good soil and a strong stock produce good fruit. Good ground (a prepared heart), the Living Water, the Vine and the Son.
“But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature together with its passions and appetites.” Galatians 5:22-24 AMP
I bring my heart to Christ. I let Jesus cultivate the soil and I become grafted to His vine. He bears the fruit through me.
Focus on the Vine today and good fruit will come!