The Vine

In order to live a life that is according to God’s plan, we have to remain in God. That means we have to be connected to the source of life. When we isolate ourselves from God, we then don’t bear fruit. What does that mean? That means that we do nothing for God. We’re a useless branch in the grapevine. We may claim to be followers of Jesus, but we aren’t producing fruit. No one knows that we follow Him. We may say all of the right things, know all of the stories, be able to argue and defend our “beliefs”… But we haven’t truly ever been connected to the vine.

In our generation, there are many “cultural Christians.” People who say they’re Christians because their friends are. They may have prayed a prayer when they were a kid and so they think they are Christians.

But Jesus is pretty clear:

When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. (vs 10)

There are many people who claim to know Jesus. But they don’t do what He says. Their lives have no evidence of His resurrection power and they also bear no fruit. They aren’t useful in the kingdom of God. My fear is that some of you are saying one thing with your mouth, but your life tells a different story…

Matthew 7:21-23

“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’”

The Bible is clear that not everyone who claims to follow Jesus is actually a follower… Only those who follow what God says with their lives. You have to ask yourself some tough questions…

Am I living out what I’m saying? Is my life bearing fruit? Or is it useless when it comes to the things of God? Is my life centered around Jesus? To remain means to abide… to not depart… Do you spend time with Jesus? Do you consistently go to the source of life? Or are you separated… cut off from the vine?

Maybe you need to decide to follow Jesus. Even if you’ve claimed to before. This is the most important decision you can ever make.