On the Right Track?

Have you ever felt lost? Maybe spiritually lost?
Perhaps you’ve questioned your value...
Do you have Joy? 

“Am I on the right track?” I asked a friend a few years back. The question plagued my mind. I wanted to be sure that I was talking to Jesus right, doing right, and going right.

At the time, the answer I got back was less than helpful: “I guess you’ll know if you bear fruit or not.”

This answer posed a few problems! Firstly, I like to know how people feel about me. It makes me less anxious, and this answer did not come attached with a personal opinion. Secondly, how would I know if I would bear fruit or not? Could I be on the wrong track and not know, and get myself lost, never to find my way back? Or perhaps I would bear fruit and notice it! That would be OK? Then again, I might think I was bearing fruit but be mistaken? Would I need to consult some holy person to tell me? I mean, what does ‘bearing fruit’ even look like? If I was my lemon tree, I would know I was in trouble! My lemon tree (secretly replaced three times) had already been frost-bitten, attacked by cute insects I didn’t want to hurt, and de-barked by rats until one day it disappeared and kind of wasn’t in the ground anymore!

The endless spiral of questions needed to stop for the sake of my husband’s listening ear, and so, I decided I would carry on without an answer. I had hope that Jesus would know I was trying my best to be on the right track and at some point, it would all become clear.

This morning, the words “Remain in me, as I also remain in you…” (John 15:4) came to mind. I sat and thought about those words for quite some time. I had read those words before, but today they sounded different. Today it was personal. It was intimate. Jesus sat next to me as my friend and we talked.

Those few words answered my question. If I sit with Jesus and spend time with Him, and He spends time with me, then the idea of me being on the wrong track is quite impossible. It’s not a matter of ‘doing right’ it’s just a simple fact. Another fact is that neither a friend nor holy person could have answered this question for me. No one but Jesus and I know the depth and complexity of the friendship we share, so opinions from others can’t count.

The verse continues, “…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). With the knowledge that this analogy features God as the Gardner, Jesus as the Vine, and I – the branches (John 15:1), it could be concluded that while I continue to sit and spend time with Jesus as my friend, and He sit and spend time with me, it is also quite impossible for me not to bear fruit. That’s a fact.

It goes on to say, “…you will bear much fruit…” (John 15:5) – not just a little fruit!

As I continue to read the passage, it talks about what will happen if I did choose to end my friendship with Jesus: “If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.” (John 15:6). Unfortunately, another fact is that when a branch comes away from its life-source, it has no other option but to be less than it could have been. It withers, because it cannot sustain itself by itself. The possibility for it to thrive, grow and fruit fades. It becomes lost.

The passage goes on to say, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” (John 15:7-8). This means that when I spend time building my friendship with Jesus, I come to know Him well. My character matures and develops, and I seek the things that Jesus would love to provide for me. These are not materialistic riches or items on a superficial wish list, but rather the things in my life that will change and grow me for the better. The things that will bring me into a place where I find purpose and reach the potential of who I was created to be in Jesus. Not to say that there haven’t been times when I have asked Him for superficial things that I thought were important. I love that Jesus, in His loving kindness, has always answered my pleas. In hindsight, there are more than a few occasions when I have asked for things that have been rather silly, however, I have also grown in faith, confidence and knowledge since that time. This is evidence to me, and perhaps to others as well, that spending time with Jesus has changed me and will continue to do so. I am happy to follow Him.

The verse continues, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.  If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.” (John 15: 9-10). What Jesus is saying here is that God deeply loved Him, and He deeply loves us the same way as God loves Him. It’s a pretty BIG love. He loves us so greatly – He wants to continue a relationship with us, but He gives us the choice to stay. He says, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” (John 15:11-12). This means that if we choose to stay, we not only find purpose and the ability to reach our full potential in Him; we also will discover a better feeling than happiness. We find joy – His joy! The type of joy that comes complete, fulfilling, and sustaining. This joy is not to be hidden; it is designed to be lived out loud, and for us to love our friends and family like He has loved us.

Jesus has loved bigger and deeper than anyone I know. He Has loved me in a way greater than I can express. He went to the cross so that I could have life – so that we all could have life! He calls us His friends. We are so very important to Him. He has said that everything God has told Him; He will tell us. That’s a pretty good type of friend to have. It says, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” (John 15:13-15).

This passage concludes by saying, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other.” (John 15:16-17).

To bear fruit means that I can love deeper, have joy, rest in peace and understand patience; I show kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23). I grow in wisdom and make healthy choices. I understand that I am not perfect, and cannot be, but while I sit and talk with Jesus, I am growing. 

Our Gardner, God, comes to prune us every now and then. He cuts off the parts that are no longer healthy or serve a purpose. It can be a great shock to be pruned. It can be painful. Sometimes we need to change old unhealthy habits and have a season of slow growth. We hang onto the vine in nakedness, feeling vulnerable and perhaps lost, but we are growing. We are not alone. A new branch develops, a new bud appears, and our older branches thicken in courage, faith and character. We will fruit greater than we ever have. We may not see our potential, but God our Gardener does. Jesus, the Vine, is holding us tightly and we just need to choose to stay connected. The Gardner will grow us to our best.  

What is most special is that Jesus wants to have a close friendship with us. He wants to hear from us about what’s going on in our lives. He seeks us. He has promised to be a good friend – one that will transform us.

God does not replace us like I did the lemon tree. You are not replaceable. Jesus loves you. Stay connected. It’s worth it!

Remember, “He who began a good work in you will complete it.” (Philippians 1:6).