Productive Living

S -“Stay joined to me, and I will stay joined to you. Just as a branch cannot produce fruit unless it stays joined to the vine, you cannot produce fruit unless you stay joined to me. I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you stay joined to me, and I stay joined to you, then you will produce lots of fruit. But you cannot do anything without me. If you don’t stay joined to me, you will be thrown away. You will be like dry branches that are gathered up and burned in a fire. Stay joined to me and let my teachings become part of you. Then you can ask for whatever you want, and it will be done for you. … Now I tell you to love each other, as I have loved you …  You did not choose me. I chose you and sent you out to produce fruit, the kind of fruit that will last. Then my Father will give you whatever you ask for in my name. So I command you to love each other.” John 15 TS

O - Production itself is not the focus of Jesus in this coaching moment he takes with those closest to him. Earth has long been producing a wide range of items; many of them tragic and all of them temporary. The issue is what is produced and its shelf life. In direct contrast to the thinking of earth, lots of lasting fruit is not the variable. A life which becomes and remains fruitful isn’t dependent on supply chains, market forces, talent, skill sets, resources or opportunities exploited. The only variable is a relational one. Staying joined to a person, Jesus, and cooperating with his instructions is the point upon which it all pivots. He’s the exclusive difference between a life in the fire or one on fire.

A - If the guarantee of fruitful, lasting and unlimited (ask for anything) living weren’t enough, the unflinching commitment of the only source for it is almost unbelievable (except for who it is making this commitment). Jesus will unconditionally stay joined to me/us. The question is will I stay joined to him? Will I believe him about earth or try to limit his influence to my beliefs about heaven (cf. John 3:11-12)? Will I work for him or with him?  Will I live to him or in him?  The outcome for me, my living and my praying hang in the balance. I’m not given the option of being a stick in the mud … it's either a fruitful branch or a dry branch for the fire. I will choose to stay joined and to let his teaching about everything become a part of me. The company alone is worth whatever it may require. Yes to Jesus on earth … yes to fruitful, lasting production! 

P - Lord of heaven and earth,

I fully embrace that without you I can do nothing … nothing. Thank you for your relentless love and commitment to all — me included. You lead and I’ll follow. I love you back!

Steve