John 15:4–8

4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 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. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

 

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit. John 15:5

“Your mum came over today, but it was strange—she wouldn’t tell me what she wanted,” said Dorothy, a foreigner who had married an Indian.

Her husband frowned, “Didn’t you invite her in?”

She had not! In her home culture, people—even family—don’t visit without asking or for no reason. An explanatory phone call and a culture lesson later, she realised how foolish she had been. She had assumed her mother-in-law wanted something from her when she simply wanted to be with her. Dorothy was so busy trying to work out her expectations that she missed the opportunity simply to enjoy her presence.

It’s something we do with God too. We so easily get caught up in the things we need to do as His people that sometimes we forget the most important thing: just being with Jesus, enjoying His presence.

Jesus reminds us, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit” (JOHN 15:5). No branch can produce fruit by itself, no matter how hard it tries. Instead, Jesus’ command is to “remain”—or “stay connected”—in the vine.

Bearing fruit—serving Jesus—doesn’t require a crazy rush of activity that leaves Him waiting at the door. But as we abide in Him, He promises, “You will bear much fruit.” Let’s take time to enjoy His presence today—and He will grow His fruit in us.

What stops you making time to rest in Jesus’ presence? When have you experienced His fruit growing in your life simply because you’ve spent more time with Him?

Jesus, thank You for inviting me to be close to You right now. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.