Bear Fruit from The Vine

         Have you had your Joy Juice today?  God’s Fruit Garden always has a fresh batch!

            In the Old Testament the grapevine and the abundant harvest of grapes from a single vine symbolized Israel’s fruitfulness in doing God’s work on the earth.  At the Passover meal, the fruit of the vine symbolized God’s goodness to his people.  Now, listen to the words of Jesus in John 15. 

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. ² He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes,^] so that it will be even more fruitful…

   ⁵ “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

How can we bear spiritual fruit?  By remaining in Christ and allowing Him to dwell in us.  These verses tell us that our Father cuts off the branches that bear no fruit…and that even those that do bear fruit, he prunes so that they will be even more fruitful.  Cutting or pruning symbolizes pain.  Being a follower of Christ requires separating ourselves from some of the influences of our past…allowing Christ to take the place of old desires and pleasures. 

This isn’t a sad thing because the joy we experience from a genuine relationship with Jesus far outweighs anything else!

            Remain in Jesus and allow Him to dwell in you.  You’ll be amazed at how much fruit will blossom and grow because of The Master Gardener’s tender love and touch!

Enjoy the Fruit of Your Labor

            Have you had your Joy Juice today?  It’s highly “flavored” with the fruit of JOY!

            We talk often about the fruit of the Spirit as explained in Galatians 5.  In Psalm 128 we find fruit mentioned again.  The Psalmist wrote: “Blessed are all who fear the LORD,   who walk in obedience to him.  You will eat the fruit of your labor;  blessings and prosperity will be yours.”

            We will eat the fruit of our labor! I think what the writer was saying …under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit…is that if we live a life of obedience to the God, following His commands and loving Him will all our heart, then we will be blessed!  (That’s a reason for joy!)

            Obedience should come from a heart of love.  The Bible outlines values and principles such as loving God and man, serving others, honesty, integrity, prayerful communication with Him.  All of these are important characteristics and should be a part of our spiritual growth process.  He promises that when we do walk in obedience to God, we will be rewarded with the fruit of blessings from Him.

            Now, we won’t all be rich in material wealth.  And there will be days of sickness and heartache. But the promise is that we will receive blessings through those times…strength from Him, needs met at the right time, people brought into our lives that can support and encourage us.  That’s what the fruit of JOY is about!

           Let’s pray for one another to walk in joyful obedience to our wonderful Heavenly Father…so that we might eat & enjoy the fruit of our labor!

The Fruit of Joy is Delicious

            Have you had your Joy Juice today?  It’s very healthy!  No sugar, no calories, no artificial flavoring! “Taste and see” that is oh, sooooo good!

            So often at the beginning of each new year, we make resolutions. Many of us want to change our habits and try to make healthier choices.  One of the foods that we need to include in a healthy diet is fruit.  Today let’s talk about making fruit an important part of our spiritual diet, as well.

            Time and time again fruit is mentioned in the Bible.  The passage the immediately comes to our minds us Galatians 5:22-23.  Though these verses are familiar, we should never let them lose their importance in our lives. Listen with fresh ears:

        “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Against such things they is no law.”

            The fruit of the Spirit…is the spontaneous work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  If we allow Him to and are committed in our walk with God, these character traits will become byproducts in our lives.   If we want the fruit of the Spirit to grow in us, we must join our lives to God…come to know him, love him….open our hearts to Him.  (Bible footnote)

            Do you desire to have this kind of fruit?  It’s the sure way to experience the genuine JOY that comes from knowing Christ.  Ask for your generous serving today!