Jesus Said: Remain in Me

Standing here in my Tuscany kitchen graced with grape vines & grapes, I’m looking out the window into the season of fall & winter coming upon us. I’m watching the wind disrobe the trees of their leaves that once so beautifully covered & filled their branches all spring & summer. However, now the leaves are brown & dead & blowing in the wind to the ground.

Trees by God’s design & creation know exactly what to do & when to do it season after season. Truly “old things are passed away & behold in due season; Father makes all things new”

As I’m taking all this in, I glance at a scripture on the wall of my kitchen: John 15:5 “I am the Vine you are the branches; if you remain in me & I in you, you will bear much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing”.

Isn’t that wonderful? Jesus does not mention the wind blowing here, or the leaves dying & falling to the ground… He makes a bold statement: “He is the Vine…we are the branches of that Vine.” It’s our free will of choice to remain in Him. When we do, He remains in us & the blessings of that choice is: We will bear much fruit. Not just bear fruit, but bear MUCH fruit! And then Jesus gives a warning of truth: “Apart from me you can do nothing.” Just as branches can not produce anything apart from their vine, we cannot produce genuine spiritual fruit apart from Jesus.

Solomon warns us in Song of Songs 2:15 to be on guard of the “little foxes.” Grown foxes can stand on their hind feet to reach the fruit of the vine in the vineyards & steal & devour the fruit. However, little foxes cannot, so they gnaw away at the vine & roots till they eventually ruin & kill the entire vine. Watch & guard your hearts of the little foxes in life that come to steal, kill & destroy the fruit in your life.

Yes, our God is Lord of every season of life. Physically that is a given. Spiritually though, it is “our choice alone” to invite & surrender all to Jesus so He can lead, cultivate & produce fruit in our lives. Choose with me this day who you will serve! Joshua 25:15

Let us choose to remain in Him & bear MUCH fruit. “For the fruit of the spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Long Suffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Meekness, Self-control & Faith. Against these, there is no law” Galatians 5:22-23

The world has never been hungrier for fruit ~ Fruit of the Spirit. It grows & is produced in one way… & that is through Jesus. So, let’s “go & grow & Remain in Him” ~Hallelujah

Kathlene Delgado-Powell