“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in Me and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in Me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned.” (John 15:5-6 NLT)
Too often we jump to the conclusion that what Jesus is addressing in these verses is salvation, but that would be a mistake. The issue here is fruitfulness, which of course is, arguably, the single most important indicator of life. But remember the context.
In the next verse Jesus points directly to the point of remaining (abiding) in Him: “But if you remain in Me and My words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are My true disciples. This brings great glory to My Father.”
Jesus’ point is clear: His “true disciples” will bear much fruit, but what does that look like? It will look like rendering much glory to the Father. But how? By abiding (remaining) in constant and close communion with the Lord Jesus, illustrated by how we pray – that for which we ask Him in prayer.
The real question here is “What is the focus of most of my prayers?” For whose glory am I asking? Who will stand to benefit from my prayer? What “fruit” will grow as a result of my seeking the Father in Jesus’ Name? Realizing we’re not the fruit producers, only the fruit bearers. Remember, the point of prayer isn’t so much what’s being asked, but what’s behind the asking? Not only content, but motive.
Ideally, for someone who professes faith in Jesus, we’re not following Jesus simply to receive, but to give. Yes, of course, we must receive. Jesus IS our life, so we receive our sustenance from Him. He is our Sustainer, in the sense that apart from Him we are nothing and can do nothing. So, we MUST receive from Him. So, prayer is our lifeline.
The context of our asking is to give evidence of our allegiance to Him, our dependence upon Him, but also to give glory, honor, adoration, and worship to our Father. So, the bottom line here is, why do we pray? Are we seeking to use God to get our way, or humbly acknowledging that He IS our all in all and apart from Him we are nothing and can do nothing.
Fruitfulness grows out of intimacy. No intimacy, no fruit. No fruit, no relationship. No relationship, no heaven. And, yes, I know I said it wasn’t about salvation, but in a sense it is. Notice in the above verse Jesus mentions “My true disciples.” What is that? A disciple is a pupil, a learner, but more specifically, Jesus says they are “My” true disciples.
Does it make sense that Jesus knows those who are His and those who are not? And what is the measure of that knowledge? Intimacy! Closeness! Relationship! Anyone can say anything, but it doesn’t make it true. Do you think everyone who believes they are a “disciple” actually is one? Even among the twelve to whom Jesus was speaking, one was a devil, not a disciple – even after walking with Him for three years.
We’re in this relationship with Jesus, not for what we can get out of it, but what we can learn, how we can become more invested in the One who gave His all for us. Reading the Bible, going to church, serving, or saying prayers doesn’t qualify us to be a disciple. So, what does? Bearing fruit! How? By allowing our life – everything we’re becoming and every desire of our heart, all that motivates us from the opening of our eyes in the morning until they close in sleep at night – glorifying and honoring our King, not ourselves.
Our asking in prayer grows out of our hunger for Him, not out of our need for things that will feed our own selfishness.
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 