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Written by Kat Bittner, volunteer with Sister Iron Rose Ministries in Colorado
In the hustle of our daily lives, it’s easy to feel like we are running on empty. We strive to be "good people," to be productive, and to make a difference, but often we find ourselves exhausted and withered. The secret to a vibrant, impactful life isn't found in trying harder—it’s found in abiding deeper.
While 2 Peter 3 reminds us of the patience of the Lord and the promise of His return, it calls us to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2Pe 3:18). This growth isn't a solo DIY project; it is the natural result of being connected to the Source.
The Anatomy of the Vine
To understand our relationship with Jesus, we have to look at the vineyard. Jesus famously said, "I am the vine; you are the branches" (Jn 15:5). In a physical vineyard, the vine is the lifeline. It pumps water and nutrients from the earth into the branches. The branch doesn't "work" to create a grape; it simply holds on.
- The Vine provides the identity: A branch without a vine is just a stick.
- The Vine provides the energy: The sap (the Holy Spirit) flows through the connection.
- The Vine determines the fruit: You cannot produce "peace" or "love" on your own strength any more than a branch can produce an apple by sheer willpower.
"The branch of the vine does not worry, and fret, and rush here and there to seek for sunshine, air, and ingredients of life... it simply rests in the vine, and the fruit which comes is the vine’s fruit, grown through the branch." — Hudson Taylor
Why We Invite Others into the Vineyard
If we are truly connected to the Vine, our lives will naturally hang heavy with fruit. And fruit isn't for the branch—fruit is for others to eat. Second Peter 3:9 tells us that the Lord is "patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." If we have found the source of life, our greatest act of love is to invite others to graft themselves into the same Vine. We aren't just inviting people to a "religion"; we are inviting them to a relationship that sustains them.
Practical Ways to Invite Others
Inviting someone to know Jesus doesn't always require a pulpit. Sometimes, it just requires a gardener’s touch. Here are three practical ways to share the Vine:
- The "Taste and See" Invitation: Share a specific way Jesus has helped you through a recent struggle. When people see the "fruit" of peace in your life during a storm, they will want to know where it comes from.
- The Open Table: Invite a neighbor or coworker for a meal. Use the time to listen deeply. As 1 Peter 3:15 suggests, "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have."
- The Simple "Come and See": You don't need to have all the answers. Like Philip said to Nathanael in John 1:46, just say: "I’ve found something that changed my life. Do you want to come to service (or small group) with me this week?"
Conclusion
As we wait for the day of the Lord described in 2 Peter 3, let us not be idle. Let us sink our roots deep into Jesus, the True Vine, and extend our branches wide to a world that is hungry for the fruit only He can provide.
I encourage you to create a list of five daily "Abiding Prompts" to help you stay connected to the Vine throughout your week.
Written by Rachel D. Baker, volunteer with Sister Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Arkansas
It's time for many of us to face the difficult truth: It is entirely possible to spend a lot of time doing things for God and still feel spiritually empty.
Church events, cooking meals, Bible studies, helping others, showing up when someone needs prayer… none of these things are bad. In fact, they are beautiful expressions of faith! But somewhere along the way, many of us quietly drift into a dangerous rhythm. We become so focused on serving others for God that we slowly stop spending much time with Him.
This is exactly where Jesus’s words gently pull us back to what matters most:
“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. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit;
apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:4-5 (NIV)
The imagery Jesus uses here is simple, but powerful. A branch has no life source of its own, and it can’t produce fruit through determination or effort. It only bears fruit because it’s connected to the vine that supplies everything it needs. If a branch is cut off, it could still look fine for a little while. The leaves might still appear green. But eventually, life fades from the branch because the connection is gone.
The same is true for us. We can stay busy with good things for a while. We can keep showing up, serving, and checking all the right boxes. But if we aren't still connected to Jesus — the true Vine — our spiritual lives slowly begin to dry out. This is why we need a reminder that tends to step on our toes:
Don’t spend so much time working for God that you forget to spend time with God.
Ministering to others can easily crowd out intimacy with the One we are serving. Our calendars fill up, and responsibilities multiply. Before we realize it, quiet time with our Father becomes the thing we squeeze in “if there’s time.”
But the fruit of the Spirit — love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control — does not grow out of a packed schedule or stubborn willpower. Fruit grows from connection.
Jesus never told us to create fruit. He told us to remain in Him and yield the fruit.
Remaining in Christ isn’t complicated, but it does require intention. It means stepping away from the noise and distractions long enough to sit in God’s presence. It means opening His Word and letting it speak into our hearts instead of rushing through a few verses on our way to the next task. It means praying honestly and pausing long enough to listen. It’s less about checking a spiritual box and more about cultivating a relationship.
So, what does this look like?
Maybe sometimes it looks like sitting quietly with your Bible and a cup of coffee before the house wakes up. Sometimes it’s whispering prayers while folding laundry or driving to work. Sometimes it’s simply slowing down enough to notice God’s presence in the middle of an ordinary day. These small moments of connection are where spiritual fruit begins to grow.
When we stay close to Jesus, His life flows through us. Over time, we start to notice changes — not because we forced them, but because God works within us. Patience shows up where frustration used to live. Peace settles into places that once felt chaotic. Love becomes easier to extend, even when it’s difficult. This is the beauty of remaining close to Christ: The pressure to produce fruit isn’t on us. (Hallelujah!) Our role is simply to remain connected to the Vine.
So, if life has felt busy, overwhelming, or spiritually dry lately, the invitation today isn’t to try harder. It’s simply to slow down and return to the Vine. Because when we dwell with Him, the fruit will come.
Are you spending more time working for God, or remaining with Him?
What might need to shift in your daily rhythms so you can stay more closely connected to the Vine?
