“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7-8
I think it’s scientifically sound to say that no fruit can grow without sunlight because all fruit needs sunlight for photosynthesis. My friend, the same is true for spiritual fruit. It cannot be produced in our life unless we are connected to the Son.
Sometimes we get so focused on producing results, that we forget the most essential part: staying connected to the Vine. When we disconnect from God, we might still look busy, but the results of our efforts will not be within His divine plan. It will be OUR fruit—-not HIS. What we produce in our own strength will never compare to what He can produce through us. Arguably, whatever we are producing is not fruit at all—it’s just a poor imitation of the real thing.
Think about it. What kind of fruit could a farmer grow without the sun? Without the essential life-giving elements, his harvest would be artificial, hollow, and worthless. In the same way, what kind of fruit can we produce apart from God? The answer is simple: NONE. Jesus made this abundantly clear:
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 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. You are already clean because of the Word which I have spoken to you. 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 15:1-5
Jesus is unmistakably clear: “Without Me, you can do NOTHING.” Why? Because even the very breath in our lungs comes from Him. Without His life flowing through us, our efforts, plans, and goals amount to zero—no matter how busy we are. What are our plans today? Are they a God-centered mission, or just a whole lot of nothing?
If we want to bear fruit that matters for eternity, we must abide in Him. And we need to remember: when we are connected to the Vine, pruning will come. Pruning isn’t punishment—it’s love. A wise and loving Father will always remove the things that are hurting us or hindering our growth. The Bible reminds us:
“For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.” Hebrews 12:6
God’s pruning is meant to bring more fruit, not less. He lovingly cuts away the selfishness and distractions that disconnect us from His power. Here’s a question to ask ourselves: Is there anything I’m thinking, doing, saying, watching, or tolerating that I wouldn’t if Jesus were physically standing right next to me?
If so, that’s a signal we’re drifting from the Vine. That’s the “rumble strip” moment. We must quickly return to our life source. When we abide in Jesus, He cleanses us through His Word (John 15:3). He aligns our heart with His, and we start producing what really matters: eternal fruit.
If we want to live a life of true purpose, our greatest focus must be staying connected to Him. Everything good flows from that relationship. In Him, we find our identity, our mission, our satisfaction, and our power. Apart from Him, we are nothing.
Reflection Thought
“Busy” does not mean “fruitful.” Are your daily efforts connected to the Vine, or are you working in your own strength?
Prayer
Father God, thank You for reminding me that apart from You, I can do nothing. I don’t want to waste my life chasing after things that will never matter. Please help me to abide in You, to stay close, and to let Your Word cleanse and guide me. When You prune me, give me the grace to receive it with a thankful heart, knowing You are helping me grow. Keep me fully connected to You so that my life will produce fruit that glorifies You. In Jesus’ name, Amen
