Jesus Style Leadership 3 - Crop & FaithSample

The Basis of a Great Crop

Leadership Lesson

Tapping into Jesus is essential to a great Crop.

Read John 15:4–8.

Comment

In the previous two devotions, we saw that Jesus-style leaders produce a Crop for Jesus as they actively use the gifts and resources that God has given them. We must not be lazy. However, this passage reminds us that Crop is not just about hard work. Certainly, Jesus expects us to “bear much fruit” (15:8), but hard work by itself will never produce real fruit. I am not really a gardener, but I had a very healthy hedge as a showpiece in our front yard. I was proud of my hedge and worked hard to keep it growing and neat. Then the leaves on some branches started turning yellow and dying. I would carefully cut out the dead branches and then fertilise and water. But it kept happening. Eventually, I found that grubs were burrowing into the trunk and cutting off the supply of nutrients from the roots to the branches. All my effort to keep the hedge looking good was wasted. Jesus says that if we’re not tapping into the vine, no matter how hard we work, we don’t get anywhere spiritually. Without the life-giving power of Jesus, it’s all wasted effort. Our leadership might look good. It might make us popular. It might even seem like God is blessing our work. But from God’s perspective, it’s all withered, fruitless branches fit only for burning. It’s important to remember that ultimately, our Crop comes through our connection to Jesus.

Prayer

Lord, I’m willing to work hard for you, but I know that’s not enough. I need your strength, your life, and your power to flow through me. Help me to stay close to you, to rely on you, and to follow you so that the life of the vine will flow through my branch and produce much fruit.

Personal Reflection

Where have you seen the life of Jesus flowing through you recently? What fruit was produced?