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.—John 15:4 (NIV)

I don’t know much about gardening, but I love how flowers brighten up a home. So I planted daisies, flowers I was told could flourish in a hot climate. At first, they were lush and vibrant. But soon, I got busy and forgot to water my flowerpots. Eventually, the daisies withered and died. Later, I found one stem was even separated from the root. How did I expect anything to grow without water? 

In John 15, Jesus told the disciples to stay connected to Him in order to thrive. He was the “vine,” their life source, and they were his “branches.” As branches, they would produce “fruit.” They were “offshoots” of the Savior. Since Jesus’s ministry was productive, their ministries would be productive too. How they lived their lives directly reflected their connection to Jesus. 

Just as I became too distracted to tend to my flowerpots, I sometimes find myself neglecting my time with Jesus. I might not pray for a few days. I set aside my Bible reading for a few weeks. Over time, I stop growing spiritually and start feeling as dry and wilted as my daisies. But Jesus has given me a way to revive simply by reconnecting with Him. Through spiritual disciplines such as praying and reading the Bible, I become rooted in Him. Remaining in Jesus allows me to be fruitful. As I grow in Him, I might even try my hand at growing flowers again. 

Faith Step: This week, do an inspection of your life and assess what kind of fruit, if any, it is producing.