Fruitbearing: Mechanism and Motive

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Reading: John 15:1-17

Reflection: As I read through the scripture reading this morning...a bit like a half awake person I must admit...it seemed to me that there were two key ideas that jumped out at me. The first of those is the mechanism needed for any disciple to bear fruit. From what Jesus says, a disciple doesn't bear fruit because they never miss personal devotions or work hard at social reforms. They don't bear fruit because they have learned their gifts profile and applied those gifts successfully in life. All of these things assume that I am the one who brings fruit to life. But Jesus is the one who brings the fruit. So, the disciple's role is simply to remain constantly connected to Jesus. If I remain in Him...if I allow my daily life to be governed and guided by His Spirit...He will bear fruit through me. This is the mechanism for bearing fruit...I remain in Him.

This passage seems to also move beyond the mechanism for bearing fruit to the actual motive of the disciple in the process. A genuine disciple is not seeking to reproduce fruit in life in order to gain a reputation for themselves as a spiritual guru. Neither are they to produce fruit as a means of gaining a ministry position or for the purpose of bringing social relief or justice. According to Jesus, the reason we bear fruit is for the sake of God's glory. It is the disciples goal in fruitbearing to seek to advance the name and reputation of their God. So, if I am to be the real deal, I need to focus on remaining in constant contact with Jesus so that He can produce fruit in and through me in a way that brings glory to our God. This is the mechanism and motive for bearing fruit.