ARE YOU A BRANCH OR A VINE?

Jesus said, "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." (John 15:5)

I wonder how many people who think they are doing something are actually doing nothing with most of their lives. Many people believe that they can live apart from Jesus and build a good life, and it may even seem that way at times.

But all their efforts are for nothing. In the end they shall die separated from God forever, all because they decided to do life their way. Their fruit produced is no good at all when Jesus examines it.

So many waste their lives building for themselves. They may even go to church, but because they excluded Jesus, their branches will not hold up; it is all or nothing with Jesus. You don't share the fruit or make it. You can only allow Him to work in your life to produce the real eternal results.

So if He would today examine the fruit your life has produced, what would He find? Something useful or something with your name all over it saying, "Look what I've done"? If so, He will cast it all away in the end. You'll have nothing to show for any benefit, and what you'll reap from this fruit will be thrown away, and you and your fruit will be rejected forever.

Examine your branches today. Don't try to be the vine.

Mark Taylor is the General Manager of KNEO Radio and President of Sky High Broadcasting. You can read his weekly columns in the Big Nickel, the Newton County News, the Free Press and the Neosho Daily News, or email him at mtaylor@kneo.org.