My mother, bless her heart, is an amazing gardener. All of her potted plants are lush and green, bursting with blooms at the proper time each year. Her yard is just as lovely, with beds of colorful flowering plants and grasses, seemingly immune to Florida’s harsh sun and frequent dry spells. I, on the other hand, can kill a plant faster than you can say, “rhododendron!” Seriously, I’ve tried different watering methods, from watering daily, to watering only when the soil is dry. I’ve even tried waiting for the plants themselves to cry out, “Water me now!” Nothing I’ve tried has transformed my patio into the colorful, lush oasis of my dreams. I have come to the conclusion that I didn’t inherit my mother’s “green thumb”.

Did you know that the Bible mentions gardening?

In John, chapter 15, Jesus uses a beautiful example of a gardener and a fruit-bearing vine to illustrate our abiding relationship with Him. In John 15:1-2 he says, “I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit. While each branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” In this illustration, God, the heavenly gardener, is pruning us as we go through life so that we will be more fruitful and more like him. He accomplishes this through the trials and difficulties we experience on this side of heaven.

Jesus goes on to say, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.” (vv 5-6) Jesus speaks of himself as the true vine to which we, the branches, are attached. The message is that we become useless and ineffective without Jesus Christ just as the branch withers and dies if it is severed from the nourishing, life-giving vine.

What is this fruit that we are supposed to be bearing?

Well, God’s Word lists the “fruit of the Spirit” in Galatians 5:22: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

The more that our lives exhibit these traits, the more we will impact our fellow human beings and draw the lost to Jesus Christ.
Jesus tells us the purpose for bearing spiritual fruit in verse 8: “This is to my Father’s glory that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” Our spiritual fruit shows the world we belong to Him.

How do we abide in Him ?

• Read God’s Word daily. Is your Bible collecting dust? Brush it off, open to the book of John, or anywhere else, and begin reading. Set aside a few minutes every day to read and meditate on God’s Word. How else will you truly get to know the life-giving vine, Jesus Christ?
• Spend time in prayer each day, talking to God. He is always there for you. You can have an ongoing dialogue with him throughout the day. He cares what you are going through, big and small. Talk to him in the car as you drive to and from work.
• Be odedient to God’s Word. We will still fall short at times because we all have a sin nature that came to us at the fall of man.  Nevertheless, Christians are called to obey.
•  Connect with a fellowship of believers, (better known as—a church). A network of Christian friends who will support and encourage you in your walk with God is essential for spiritual growth and accountability.
• Have the courage to walk contrary to the culture. Stand up for what’s right. Don’t fear being different. Bible-believing, conservative Christians are quickly becoming the minority and are facing persecution. Are you abiding in Christ so that you will be up to the task?

The world needs to see the fruit of God’s love now more than ever. Abide in the vine so that you can share the life-giving message of Jesus Christ with a hurting and hopeless world.