John 15:4 says, "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." The word "remain" in the verse above means to stay or dwell. The vine refers to the main trunk of a tree, and it is attached to the main root. The vine is the one that supplies nutrients to the branches so that the branches can produce twigs, leaves, flowers, and, ultimately, fruits. Our Lord Jesus used the illustration of the parts of trees to teach us that we need to stay with Him if we want to grow and produce spiritual fruit that blesses our lives. The fruit of the Spirit that can affect our lives are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22). Only God can produce the spiritual fruit in us when we stay with Him. Staying with Him means that we align our thoughts and desires with the will of our God. For example, at school, work, or at home, we need to examine our attitudes and motives to see if we are living in a way that pleases God. In other words, staying with our Lord Jesus means obedience to Him.
As we stay and obey our God in everything we do, God guides and directs our steps and blesses our lives with spiritual fruits. We need to remember that our work, education, careers, and relationships are not the answer to the longing of our hearts. We can have all these things, but they do not completely satisfy us. In this new year, if we want to have joy and peace in our hearts, we need to stay with God faithfully. Let us not get distracted, but let us make an important decision that this year will be the year that we will pursue God in every area of our lives. Let us let go of the control of our lives and let God control our lives so that He can bless us above and beyond our expectations. If we want us to grow and bear spiritual fruit, let us remain in God.
Just as the branches cannot survive without being attached to the vine or the main trunk, so we are. We cannot grow and bear spiritual fruits if we do not stay with our God. Let us align our thoughts and desires with His ways, and He will bless our lives abundantly.
Questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully, meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you.) Am I willing to remain or stay with God in this new year? How do I stay with my faith in God? What are the benefits of staying with God?
Take a moment to write down all your worries today. Then, lift them up to God in prayer, surrendering them to His will and trusting in His guidance.
Prayer:
Dear Father in Heaven, thank you for reminding me today of the importance of staying with you in this new year. Please help me remain in you. I want to bear spiritual fruit in my life so that you can bless me with your abundance. In your name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.
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