Have you known someone who has said they’re a Christian, but they don’t act any differently than the worst among us?
I think we all know someone who SAYS they’re a follower of Jesus, but their life reveals a truth that is vastly different.
John shared about how Jesus addressed this in His talk with the apostles about the vine and the branches.
At first, I didn’t understand what the “fruit” was. Some have said it’s new followers, but that didn’t jibe, because even Paul said that some are planters, some are waterers, and some harvesters. Not everyone who sows for the Kingdom gets to harvest new followers. So, that couldn’t be what Jesus meant.
Others said, the fruit of the Spirit, and while that might be true, Jesus had not revealed to the apostles that the Spirit of God would be living in them.
I find the explanation that the “fruit” Jesus spoke of is “evidence of salvation,” which can actually include the fruit of the Spirit.
Hence my question about people who say they are followers but never show evidence of that relationship.
Thing is, we can’t tend someone else’s vine branches here, only ours. So it’s important that we look at our own. We are instructed by Jesus here to remain in Him, that is, connected to the Vine.
A grape vine will not produce grapes if the branch they have sprouted from is disconnected from the vine.
Same with evidence of our salvation if we are not connected to the Vine that is Jesus, the source of our salvation.
This reminds us that experiencing salvation isn’t a one-and-done. It’s a daily, moment-by-moment relationship with the Savior, learning about Him, learning Him, living noonday-shadow close to Him. When we live to maintain that relationship, we are firmly attached to the Vine where fruit is birthed, nurtured, and excellent for harvest.
That evidence will, in time, point others to the Savior, and could result in a harvest of new believers. Our focus, however, is on our connection to the Vine.
How’s your connection right now? Is the evidence of your salvation showing? Is your faith visible to others? Do you act and react as those who don’t know the Lord or are you different? Do you exhibit love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control?
The good news is, if the evidence of your connection is faulty, you can confess that and get reconnected. He’s waiting.
Ready? Set. Shine!
Coffee, Bible, Journal.
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