John 15:1-6 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 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. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. ”

Our apps, those things that God has downloaded into us, are designed by our creator to bear fruit. None are intended to serve idle purposes or return empty. Indeed we show our true discipleship by the fruit we bear. It is not that the fruit itself acts like some “membership card” or secret handshake. In reality, when our life bears fruit, it indicates only one thing: and that is that we are ‘connected’ to the source…to the vine. In all our strength and in all our glory, we could produce nothing apart from the source – Jesus Christ. The longer we remain “in him”, the greater the opportunity for the gardener himself, God, to come along and prune us (teach us, direct us, prepare us) so that we can produce even more fruit. We can tell when we, as branches, have become disconnected from our vine because the execution of our apps produces nothing. We follow the steps mechanically, hoping to see some results, and become frustrated when the lack of what the source provides yields no fruit. Those branches which fail to produce fruit (those that do not remain in him and are disconnected from the vine) are good for nothing but to be burned.

Pray: “Father God, I did not accept the sacrifice of your son, Jesus, so that I could become so much kindling later for failing to produce fruit. I understand on my own I can do nothing. It is only through my continued connection to the vine, your son, that I am able to bear witness to myself as a disciple. I offer myself up to your pruning shears, oh Lord, that not only will my connection with you be evident to all men, but that by the yield produced through me all men may know your glory and my commitment to you. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for grafting me into yourself. Be my source. In your precious and holy name I ask – Amen.”