God - The Source of Fruit

 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 6
“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself except it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in Me.” John 15:44Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. (John 15:4)
Galatians 5:22-2322But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22‑23). The fruit of the Spirit  ...  how often we read these verses and value and appreciate them. Now, can I pair them with Hosea 14:88Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found. (Hosea 14:8) where the scripture reads “From Me is thy fruit found”? Here we see that if there is no connection there will be no fruit. The fruit can only come if it “abides” in (i.e., is connected to) the vine and its roots, that is, the Lord Jesus. God is the master Gardener. He knows when we need sunshine, rain, wind, dryness, and the refreshing moisture of dew. We can trust Him to give us the right circumstances, and we can trust Him to give the grace we need to keep us in whatever circumstances He sends. How this should produce praise from our hearts!