Producing fruit requires action. But it is not the action of frenzied spiritual activity, putting notches on my evangelism six-shooter or counting the number of verses memorized, Bible chapters studied, or church services attended.
Yes, God wants us to “bear fruit” (John 15:2), “bear much fruit” (v.8), and “bear fruit… that should abide” (v.16). However, He is the gardener. He takes responsibility for providing all we need to be fruitful. He cares for us, looks after us, and helps us through hard times so that we can produce the maximum yield. He is the expert who knows when we are unhealthy… He provides what we need and cleans us or prunes us so that we may continue to bear more fruit (vs.2-3).
I often remember an exercise suggested by my friend J. O. Sanders, former director of Overseas Missionary Fellowship. “Read I Corinthians 13:4-7
Next Sanders said, “Replace those words with your name.” When I inserted my name into the passage (“Chuck is patient, Chuck is kind…”), I realized how far I fell short of God’s standard of love.
Finally, my friend came to the rescue. “Read the passage again, this time using the phrase ‘Jesus in me.'” Now I saw that “Jesus in me is patient, Jesus in me is kind…” This exercise has helped and motivated me repeatedly. When I stay connected to the True Vine and draw upon His resources and power, “Jesus in me” produces the fruit that honors God.
But what is this fruit? Is it one’s character, as in those qualities listed as the “fruit of the Spirit” in Galatians 5:22-23? Is it “results,” such as new believers? I’m convinced it is both. If fruitfulness is Christlikeness, then the fruit we produce is both Christlike character that results from abiding in the Vine and in His love (John 15:5,9) and Christlike ministry and service that result when He sends us into the world “to go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide” (John 15:16).
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