FREE FROM FEAR PART 31

Tips from a Tree 

Often it is the simplest things in life that can reveal some of the most profound things of life! Though I touched on the subject of the relationship between a branch and the vine, because of its immense importance, I would like to revisit it. 

Have you ever seen a branch struggling? Does a branch struggle to bear fruit? The answer is no. A branch simply abides in the vine, and in doing so, the fruit comes naturally. How often do we, as Christians, struggle to produce the fruit of God? Is that really what it takes? The words of Jesus are so profound! It is of utmost importance that we pay careful attention! 

John 15:1-9 1“I am the true Vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit, he prunes a so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the Vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 “I am the Vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. 9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 

Jesus clearly states that he is the Vine; we are the branches; and the Father is the gardener. The only way to bear fruit is to remain in Him. According to the Scripture, remaining in Him is to remain in his love. Verse nine states, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.” Remember, one of the most important things Jesus declared was that he came to give us a new command, or you could say a new rule for living, that rule was love! (John 13:34-35) Authentic and powerful Christianity can be explained in one word, love! Love came to replace the law and the prophets. 

Romans 13:8-10 8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law. 

Before Adam and he fell, they lived in the one thing that fulfills the righteous requirements of the law – love. For Jesus to free us from the bondage of shame, condemnation, and fear, he had to satisfy the requirements of the law, break its power over us and then give us the opportunity to, by faith, step into his amazing life of love! “Perfect love casts out fear.” 1 John 4:18 

Don’t miss tomorrow! I will be sharing one of the final keys to abiding in love and accessing the abundant life of heaven that is… 

FREE FROM FEAR

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