Read John 15:1-5
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me” (v. 4).
Growing in our yard is a white oak tree that my wife started from an 27 acorn. More than a year ago, one of our grandsons broke a limb from the tree. It seemed to be a teachable moment, so I asked the four grandsons who were present to sit down around the small tree. I asked them to look at the tree and observe the scar that was left after having a limb severed from it. I reminded them that the limb could have grown large enough to offer shade and become a limb from which a swing could have been hung. Further, I said it was likely that years from that date the tree would still bear a scar.
A severed limb from an oak may not be a big deal, but that limb will never bear acorns because it is detached. Our detachment from Christ results in barrenness. Could it be that those who claim to be part of the church are so preoccupied with activity that they have neglected abiding? Because abiding is not practiced, there is no fruit. (LRW)
Abiding in Christ, His life flows through me.
Abiding in Christ, He will make me fruitful be. — Lonnie Witt
The severed branch bears no fruit.
This week’s featured devotional is the Wednesday, June 25, 2014 entry of Opening the Word. Order your copy!
Photo credit: "White oak (Quercus alba) on William B. Umstead State Park Sycamore Trail" Miguel Vieira used under CC BY 2.0 / Resized and cropped.