City Life Starter

Written by Paul Lane

The Word

1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. ² Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. ³ You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. ⁴ Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself but must remain in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me.  ⁵ I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. “

John 15:1-5

Reflection

I think one of the most frustrating things in the Christian life is to figure out what it means to “bear fruit.”  Converting people? Give time and money to the poor?  Be sacrificed to unbelievers on a foreign mission field far from home?  We know that “obedience is better than sacrifice.”  But if we give something to the Lord and it cost me nothing, what have we given (2 Samuel 24:24)?

I celebrate these questions, for they are high and elevated thoughts from a pure heart.  But I think, to some extent, they are making the question more complicated than need be.  In our passage today Jesus says, “I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him bears much fruit.”   Jesus doesn’t just give us the “hard thing to do” he also gives us the way to do it.  The farmer expects the ox to wear the yoke fitted for him and plow the field in which the farmer is working.  The ox doesn’t wear just any yoke, and he doesn’t just go plow any field that happens to be there.  He follows the direction of the farmer.

And so it is with Christ.  We are not sent into the world, to bear fruit in our own strength, or of our own invention.  Jesus says, “Just as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself but must remain in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me.”  Not only is Jesus not expecting you to figure it out on your own, but He says you can’t.  God made man an elevated and capable being, so it should be no surprise that you can accomplish much.  You can feed the poor, build churches, and even topple bad guys, convince millions to follow you, but if it is not done at the direction of the Lord, for His glory and His kingdom, it will be all for nothing.  Jesus says that there are people who do these things, who He never knew.  And he says that they are paid in full.  “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain” (Ps 127:1).

Application

So, how do you do this?  I’d say, start by spending time with Jesus and then telling people about how wonderful it is to spend time with Him.  Read His word to find out what Jesus cares about, then let that lead you to having compassion for who He puts on your heart.  Talk to Jesus about the people in your life, and the things going on in the world, then let Him give you a burden for a people to serve.  All mission fields are in foreign lands far from home.  When you enter God’s kingdom, you receive a home that is far away but a fellowship that is very close.  Live your life in such a way that Jesus says, “Ah, yes.  I know her.  I know him.  One of my favorites.”  Learn to enjoy the sweetness of the fellowship of Jesus, then find the time to enjoy that sweetness with others.

Prayer

Dear Lord, Your burden is not heavy, and the work You ask of me is good in every way.  Teach me Your sweetness and lead me into the work You have for me.  May the fellowship we have daily be consistent and the mainstay of my life.  Lord draw me into Your kingdom, then I will surely lead sinners to Your salvation.  In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen.