27 lines
4.3 KiB
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27 lines
4.3 KiB
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<title>Blue Letter Bible: Day By Day By Grace — Bob Hoekstra</title>
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<div class="head">Day By Day By Grace</div>
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<div class="subhead">Bob Hoekstra</div>
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<div class="desc-center"><div class="pad2020">February 11</div></div>
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<h2>More on Grace and Spiritual Fruit</h2>
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<div class="block"><i>"<b>Abide</b> in Me, and I in you. As the branch <b>cannot</b> bear fruit of <b>itself</b>, unless it <b>abides</b> in the vine, neither can you, unless you <b>abide</b> in Me. I am the <b>vine</b>, you are the <b>branches</b>. He who <b>abides</b> in Me, and I in him, bears <b>much fruit</b>; for without Me you can do <b>nothing</b>."</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Jhn',15,4,5);">John 15:4-5</a>)</div>
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<p>Although these verses do not mention grace, they are a classic biblical explanation of <b>grace</b> bringing forth <b>fruit</b>. The language depicts an <b>actual</b> vineyard, where fruit grows on branches that are <b>properly related</b> to a vine. Then, this physical reality is applied <b>figuratively</b> to spiritual fruit developing in our lives, if we are <b>relating correctly</b> to <b>Jesus</b>.</p>
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<p>In this teaching, our Lord reminds us that <b>literal</b> branches are <b>not</b> able to <b>produce</b> fruit themselves. <i>"The branch <b>cannot</b> bear fruit of <b>itself</b>."</i> We are <b>spiritual</b> branches, so we will <b>not</b> be able to <b>produce</b> fruit either. <i>"<b>Neither can you</b>, unless you abide in Me."</i> In fact, our potential for manufacturing genuine spiritual fruit is zero. <i>"Without Me you can do <b>nothing</b></i>.<i>"</i> The best we could ever hope to produce would be religious, wax fruit (an <b>imitation</b> of the real thing). Such would come from our <b>fleshly</b> attempts to appear godly or effective. People may be fooled by this, but God never is. Moreover, others cannot be edified by partaking of such, nor can God be glorified.</p>
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<p>True fruit results from the ongoing development of life. Life is inherent to vines, not branches. For a grape to develop on any grape branch, the life of the vine must flow into, and work within, the branch. So it is with us. <i>"<b>I</b></i> <i>am the <b>vine</b>, <b>you</b> are the <b>branches</b>."</i> This distinction is vital. We must never forget the difference, if we desire to bear fruit. The life we need for fruitfulness originates <b>in Him</b>, <b>not</b> in us.</p>
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<p>How do we <b>avail</b> ourselves of that life which is essential for fruit? <i>"<b>Abide</b> in Me, and I in you."</i> We are to look to Jesus for life, counting on Him to live in and through us. Then His life, working in us, brings forth Christlike fruit. How do we know if we are abiding? If we are willing to depend upon Jesus for spiritual fruit as a grape branch relies upon its vine for grapes, then we are truly abiding in Christ. Such dependency brings valid expectation for great measures of <b>Christlikeness</b> to be developing in and through our lives. <i>"He who <b>abides</b> in Me, and I in him, bears <b>much fruit</b>."</i></p>
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<p>This is clearly grace at work, as seen in the relational realities of <b>humility</b> and <b>faith</b>. Humility is operating as we acknowledge <i>"without Me you can do <b>nothing</b>."</i></p>
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<p>Faith is exercised as we believe <i>"He who <b>abides</b> in Me…bears <b>much fruit</b>."</i></p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">Lord Jesus, my true vine, I humbly agree with You that I cannot produce spiritual fruit on my own. I admit that apart from You at work in me, I could never manifest any genuine godliness. So, with great expectation I look to You to provide the life I need for much fruitfulness, Amen.</div>
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<div class="desc-center"><div class="pad2020"><a href="./devotions/daybyday/02/0210.html">Yesterday's Reading</a>
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<a href="./devotions/daybyday/02/0212.html">Tomorrow's Reading</a>
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