"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5

The vine is Christ, we are the branches. The Holy Spirit is the sap that runs through the vine into the branches. The branches live, grow, and bear fruit not by struggles and effort but by simply abiding. The Christian life is a life of abiding in Christ. How does the branch bear fruit? Not by continuous effort for sunshine and air; not by striving to produce beautiful blossoms and lush green leaves. No, it simply abides in the vine, in quiet union with the vine, with no effort on its part, the branch produces blossoms and fruit, the natural result of feeding off the vine. A Christian who has the Holy Spirit flowing through his life produces the fruits of the Spirit. Our job then is to fully concentrate our thoughts and affections on Christ, to abide in him. This is no easy task, by nature we want to be doing, accomplishing, working but as Hebrews 4:11 tells us, "let us labour therefore to enter into that rest". Our job is to work at resting in Him, surrendering to Him, abiding in the vine. For when we completely surrender ourselves to Him, the sap will flow through us and fruitage will appear. So let us abide in the vine, setting our hearts on Christ that we might bear fruit to His glory and honor.

Help us to abide in you, Jesus. May Your Holy Spirit flow through us, Father, that we might thrive and flourish for Your glory and honor. Help us remain connected to the vine that we might bring forth abundant fruit. Help us to submit ourselves and, in doing so, flourish for you. We ask this in the name of the true Vine, Jesus. Amen