Monday, March 11, 2013 - 2:30 pm

I read John 15 & 16 today, and as a result I'm more inspired to be fruitful in my life in Christ. John 15, verses 2 and 6 give a warning that if I don't remain in Christ, then I bear no fruit, I'm cut off from the vine (Christ), and I will be thrown into the fire. I don't think it's exaggerating to say that's a dangerous place to be. In essence, if I cut God out of my life, I'm really cutting myself off from His life. But the good news is plentiful in this passage too. The other part of verse 2 gives me a positive outlook on struggles in life when I'm doing God's will: He is pruning me so that I might be even more fruitful. I may not like the painful pruning, but without it I will miss out on doing things for God that I couldn't do otherwise. As well, verse 4 carries the promise that as I remain in Him, He will remain in me. Verse 5 then adds that this causes me to bear much fruit. Verse 7 goes on to say that as I'm remaining in Him, I'm able to ask for things in His authority, for the purpose of God's glory, so that I can be very fruitful. It makes sense that the more God is in my life, the more I think and act like Him, the more those wishes that I bring to Him will naturally align with His desires, and His plan for my life. That is my hope, and my prayer - that I would be so aligned with His will that my desires would also align with His, and my heart with His.