Pastor Tricia's Ramblings

Scripture Focus:

“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.”

— John 15:5

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

— Galatians 5:22–23

Living Set Apart Begins With Abiding

Living a life set apart for God isn’t about dressing differently, quoting more Scripture, or checking off religious duties. It starts and ends with abiding—remaining—in Christ.

But let’s be honest. “Abiding” can sound like a vague spiritual concept. What does it actually mean? And how do we do it?

In John 15:1–11, Jesus makes it clear: abiding in Him means staying connected to Him as a branch is connected to a vine. Our fruit—our lifestyle, our character, our responses—doesn’t come from trying harder. It comes from staying attached to the source.

Jesus doesn’t say, “Go produce fruit and then come find me.” He says, “Remain in me… and then you will bear much fruit.”

Fruit Doesn’t Lie: What Are You Producing?

Let’s get practical. When Jesus says we’ll “bear fruit,” He’s not talking about apples and oranges. He’s talking about something deeper—spiritual fruit, as outlined in Galatians 5:22–23:

“Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”

This fruit is evidence that we are connected to the true vine—Jesus. The same way a grapevine produces grapes or a fig tree produces figs, a life connected to Jesus will produce Christ-like character.

So ask yourself:

• Are you patient when tested?
• Are you kind when it’s inconvenient?
• Are you joyful even in uncertainty?
• Are you self-controlled when temptation whispers?

Because here’s the truth: your fruit reveals your root. You can’t claim to be connected to Christ and consistently produce fruit that looks like the world. The fruit of the Spirit is the overflow of Jesus’ life in you.

Staying Connected to the Vine

Jesus tells us how to remain in Him in John 15:10:

“If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in His love.”

This is what my pastor calls an “if-then” promise.

• If you obey…
• Then you remain in His love.

We live in a generation that doesn’t love “if-then” statements. Why? Because it requires something of us. We’ve bought into a culture of entitlement that tells us, “God’s blessings are automatic, just because of who I am.” But Jesus teaches something different.

He says obedience keeps us connected to His love.

This doesn’t mean you earn God’s love—it means you walk in it. You experience it. You live inside the safety and security of His presence when you live according to His Word.

Obedience Is the Key to Intimacy

Let’s be clear: abiding is not a passive thing.

It’s daily obedience.

It’s seeking God’s presence, not just His hand.

It’s opening His Word not for information, but for transformation.

It’s listening for His voice and responding when He speaks.

Even Jesus, though He was the Son of God, modeled obedience. He didn’t walk in authority without submission. He withdrew to pray. He sought His Father’s will. He lived with purpose, and He obeyed.

So why do we think we can bear fruit without doing the same?

We want the results without the relationship. But there is no fruit apart from the Vine. Jesus said it Himself:

“Apart from me, you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

Fruit Doesn’t Grow Overnight

Producing fruit takes time. It takes cultivation. It takes pruning.

Sometimes we’re impatient in the process. We want to see results now—maturity now, blessings now, influence now. But fruit-bearing is a slow process, and it starts with abiding.

When you remain in Christ, the fruit will come.

• You may not notice it day by day.
• But others will start to see a difference in you.
• Your responses will change.
• Your desires will shift.
• Your heart will soften.
• Your joy will grow.

You’ll begin to reflect Jesus—not because you’re forcing it, but because you’re connected to Him.

Pruning Is Part of the Process

Let’s talk about pruning. In John 15:2, Jesus says:

“Every branch in me that does not bear fruit He takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”

Wait—He prunes fruitful branches?

Yes. Because even when we’re doing well, there’s more growth ahead. Pruning isn’t punishment. It’s preparation. God removes what hinders growth so we can become even more fruitful.

Sometimes He cuts off:

• Relationships that distract
• Habits that drain
• Thoughts that deceive
• Comfort zones that limit

It may hurt. But it’s for your good.

A gardener doesn’t prune to destroy—he prunes to increase harvest.

The Fruit Is for Others

Here’s something else: fruit isn’t for the tree—it’s for others.

An apple tree doesn’t eat its own apples. A grapevine doesn’t drink its own juice. The fruit you bear is to nourish others.

• Your love blesses your family.
• Your joy lifts the broken.
• Your peace calms chaotic hearts.
• Your self-control protects relationships.

God uses your fruit to reveal Himself to the world.

That’s why it’s so important to remain in Him. People are hungry for truth. They’re looking for something real. Something pure. Something lasting. And when you remain in Christ, you become a living testimony of His character.

Remaining Is a Daily Choice

Abiding isn’t a one-time decision—it’s a daily posture.

• Every morning, we choose to remain.
• Every conversation, we choose to reflect Jesus.
• Every challenge, we choose to obey.

It’s not always easy. In fact, it often goes against our natural instincts. When someone offends us, we want to retaliate—not respond in love. When we’re stressed, we want to panic—not walk in peace.

But this is the beauty of the Holy Spirit. He doesn’t just call us to bear fruit—He empowers us to do it.

That’s why Galatians 5 doesn’t call them the “fruits of hard work” or the “fruits of willpower.” They are the fruit of the Spirit. He grows them in you as you stay connected.

Our Role: Stay Close

So what’s your role in all this? Stay close.

• Stay close to the Word.
• Stay close in prayer.
• Stay close in obedience.
• Stay close in worship.
• Stay close in community.

The more time you spend in His presence, the more like Him you become.

Check Your Fruit

Here’s a challenge: Take inventory of your fruit.

• Are you more loving today than you were last year?
• Are you more joyful, more peaceful, more patient?
• Or are you more stressed, anxious, reactive, and critical?

If your fruit doesn’t reflect the vine, it’s time for some pruning. It’s time to check your connection. Because fruit doesn’t lie.

If the fruit is dry or bitter, it’s not about trying harder. It’s about abiding deeper.

The Reward of Abiding: Full Joy

Jesus doesn’t end John 15:1–11 with obligation. He ends with invitation:

“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be full.” — John 15:11

That’s the reward of abiding: full joy.

Not fleeting happiness. Not shallow pleasure. But deep, lasting joy that anchors your soul even in storms.

That joy comes from intimacy with Jesus. From knowing Him, obeying Him, and bearing fruit through Him.

So What Now?

Maybe today you’re realizing your branch has been drifting. Maybe you’ve been trying to bear fruit apart from the Vine. Maybe you’ve been busy doing things for God without actually being with Him.

Today is the day to reconnect. To return. To remain.

You don’t need to fix yourself first. You just need to plug back into the source.

Jesus is the true vine. You are the branch. Stay with Him. Walk with Him. Obey Him. And watch as your life begins to reflect His fruit, not the world’s.

Final Reflection: What’s Falling From Your Branches?

If someone were to taste the fruit of your life—your words, your actions, your attitude—what would it reveal about the vine you’re connected to?

Let it be said of us:

• That our love is real.
• That our joy is contagious.
• That our peace is unshakable.
• That our gentleness is evident.
• That our self-control honors God.

Let it be clear that we are abiding in Jesus—not just claiming His name but living from His life.

Because when we truly remain in Him, we won’t be dropping apples and oranges.

We’ll be dropping the kind of fruit that reflects Heaven.

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