Fruitful and Fruitless Branches

Season 2 Episode 39 - On the evening before Christ's crucifixion, Jesus spent time with His disciples, sharing with them important principles that He wanted them to embrace.  He used an illustration of fruitful and fruitless branches of a tree to illustrate an important spiritual truth.  Listen to today's episode, and find out what that truth is!

"Reflect on This" is a once-weekly, short devotional podcast. In these devotionals, I share the things I am learning about the ways and nature of God, through applying my study of the Scriptures to life, in practical and fulfilling ways.
 
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Resources that inspired some episodes:

"The Language of Rivers and Stars" by Seth Lewis

“Dream Small:  The Secret Power of the Ordinary Christian Life” by Seth Lewis

 Seth Lewis blog:  https://sethlewis.ie/

35 Bible Verses About Listening To Others (Explained) - Bible Repository 

"Restoration Year: Devotions to Transform Your Relationships, Spirit, and Faith" by John Eldredge

"Boundaries" by Henry Cloud and John Townsend

"The Pleasure of His Company" by Dutch Sheets

"Fresh Air" by Chris Hodges

“The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts” by Gary Chapman

"The Lies We Believe: Renew Your Mind and Transform Your Life" by Dr. Chris Thurman

Featured ministries and resources:
 
“Agape Puppets” (ministry)
This is an amazing world-wide ministry that uses puppet shows to reach children (and their parents) for Christ, in cultures that are generally not very open to the Gospel.  To learn more, go to: https://theagapepuppets.org/ 

"Manufacture Good" (ministry)
 Manufacture Good is a Christian ministry that offers paid apprenticeships to men who need a second chance.  These apprentices learn biblical principles, character, and valuable woodworking and metalworking skills which lead to employment opportunities.  You can shop their catalog of fine home and office products, order a standard or custom piece of furniture, make a donation, and learn more about this amazing ministry, at: https://manufacturegood.org/.

"The World and Everything in It" (podcast)
This is a weekday 35-minute podcast that presents headline news, in-depth news articles, media reviews, and opinion pieces from a Christian world view.  Their stated mission is "biblically objective journalism that informs, educates, and inspires."
 
“Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage” (podcast) 
This is a once a week 30-minute podcast hosted by Greg and Erin Smalley, who head up the marriage team at Focus on the Family.  Each episode addresses a different aspect of marriage, using biblical principles, featured guests, practical advice, and a mixture of humor and candidness.  
 
"e-Sword" (Bible study software)
This study tool includes many free (and low-cost) resources, including Bibles, dictionaries, commentaries, and devotionals.  It allows you to simultaneously view verses and their corresponding cross-references, lexicon entries, commentaries, and more.
On your computer, go to e-sword.net
On your mobile device, go to your app store and search for “e-sword.” 

Music credits:
Beauty by MaxKoMusic | https://maxkomusic.com/
Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all 

Transcript

Recently, I have been reflecting upon this statement by Jesus:

John 15:2 NASB  "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away [G142]; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.

A few observations:

Because Jesus says that these people are “in Me,” then He is talking about fruitful and fruitless believers.  In other words, branches are a word picture for followers of Jesus.

Note how various Greek dictionaries define the Greek word airo (AH-ee-ro) [G142], which is translated as “takes away” in today’s verse:

G142 (airo, Greek):

·         To raise, take up, lift (NAS Exhaustive Concordance).  

·         To take up, lift, raise; bear, carry (Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary).  

·         To lift; by implication to take up or away; figuratively to raise (Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionary).  

·         To raise up, elevate, lift up. (Thayer’s Greek Definitions).

All these dictionaries include the “raise, lift” definition as the first and primary meaning of this Greek word.  They all include the “take away, remove” definition as a secondary (or figurative) meaning.

Although many (but not all) Bible translations use the secondary meaning (“take away, remove”) in this verse, the secondary meaning does not make sense in this verse.  Why would God remove or take away fruitless believers from His presence?  The only way the secondary meaning makes any sense is if you assume that this is referring to self-proclaimed Christians who are not genuinely born again (i.e., who are not bearing fruit).  But that does not fit with Jesus’ description of these people as being “in Me.”  

Therefore, the best translation of this verse is to use the primary meaning.  If we do that, then this verse shows that God treats both fruitful and fruitless believers in a loving and nurturing way:

·         God takes up every fruitless believer – not removing them, but raising them.  He lifts them up off the ground, supporting them to enhance their growth.  Today’s verse is taken from the conversation that Jesus had with His disciples on the evening before his trial and crucifixion.  Jesus is lovingly emphasizing to them the endless love of God, even for those who fail and disappoint Him.

·         God prunes fruitful believers, to yield an even greater amount of fruit.

We see Jesus demonstrating these principles later in the narrative, as Jesus lovingly restored Peter, after Peter had denied Him.  Peter’s denial did not result in rejection from Jesus, or removal from fellowship.  Instead, Jesus lifted Peter up and restored him, to get him back on track for continued spiritual growth.  The result?  Peter became one of the primary persons to spread the Gospel message in the early life of the church.  For example, at Pentecost, God chose Peter to give the evangelistic message of salvation in Jesus to the crowd, and about 3,000 people were saved!  Jesus described Peter’s central role in this way: "Upon this rock I will build My church.” (Matthew 16:18)

Let me state again the two principes:

·         God takes up every fruitless believer – not removing them, but raising them.  He lifts them up off the ground, supporting them to enhance their growth

• God prunes fruitful believers, to yield an even greater amount of fruit.

What are some applications of this biblical truth?  As we look for applications for a passage, it is helpful to ask ourselves,  “How does this change how I think, act, and live?”  With that in mind, here are a few applications that come to mind:

• Even when I am fruitless, and am not being salt and light to the world around me, God continues to love me!  He does not cut me off, but instead lifts me up off the ground to enhance my growth, and to point me heavenward toward God, the source of my strength!
• If I see other believers struggling, I should follow the example of Jesus – not rejecting them or removing myself from fellowship with them, but lovingly lifting them up and restoring them to fellowship.
• Also, I should be encouraged when I experience the pruning of the Father, because God only prunes those branches that are fruitful (to yield a greater harvest), and that must mean that He sees some fruit in my life!

Today, I encourage you to “Reflect on This.”