Bro. Eddie Ministries: The Word Gives InstructionHalimbawa

When a person accepts Jesus in his heart, his new life in Him has begun. Now he finds pleasure in living. He enjoys the presence of God. He tastes His goodness. He knows that He blesses and guides him.

But it must not stop there. He must grow in that newfound relationship with God. If he will not, he will go back to the same kind of life that he had surrendered to Him. This is not a threat. This is true.

Jesus said He is the Vine. And the Father does the dressing of the vine. “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit…Abide in Me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me, you can do nothing.” (John 15:2, 4-5)

Every one who came to know Jesus was grafted to Him. God the Father expects those who were grafted to Jesus to grow and bear fruit. It means to change. To change from living the old life of sin to living the new life in Him. It means to be conformed to the image of God and to turn away from the image of the devil.

But not all branches grafted in any tree will bear fruit. For some reasons, they do not. So the dresser has to take them away.

This goes the same with them who came to know God but do not remain in Him. They do not bring forth fruit and

so they die. It means they return to their old sinful life. Their hearts break away from God. And God who cannot touch sin cannot help but let go of them. We do not know for how long.

What we have to do to remain grafted in Jesus is to yield to Him. If it means like an infant holding his mother’s finger so tight, then let us do it. And let us keep a hold of His hand. Not just one of His fingers.

Does He not hold us by His hands? He does. And He does it firmly. (John 10:28)

So let us yield to Him. Let us depend on what He says in His Word. Let us say our prayers to Him. Let us cling to Him even when trials hit us. Let us wait on Him even when temptations try to draw us away from Him. Let us stick to Him by striving to obey His commands.

Then we can be sure that we will grow in our relationship with Him. We will bear fruit. And we will give glory to the Vine and the Vinedresser.

Reflection:
1. For you, what does it mean to yield to Jesus?
2. Why do some believers turn away from God? What does it seem to tell you?

Those who cleave to Jesus will never fall away.