Written by Abigail Becerra, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Peru

With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all.(Ac 4:33 NIV)

We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. (Ro 6:4-5)

When I think of the resurrection, many times my mind goes to a special celebration, to a specific Sunday of the year. But the resurrection is not just a date... it is a source, it is the root that sustains all true fruit in our lives. If I am connected to the Vine, then the fruit that should begin to be seen in my life has a very clear explanation: the risen Christ lives in me, and because He lives, I no longer have to continue living the same as before. I don't have to stay in the same struggles, in the same habits, or in the same way of thinking. Jesus' resurrection means that there is new life available to us today, not just a future hope.

In Acts 4:33, we see something very beautiful. The apostles bore witness "with great power" to the Lord Jesus' resurrection. And if you think about it, it wasn't simply a message they were just repeating from memory, but a truth that had completely changed their lives. They weren't talking about an idea or a pretty theory. They were talking about someone who really lives. They had seen the risen Lord, and so their message had power. It wasn't just information; it was a life transformed, bearing witness to a Savior who is alive. And the result was clear: abundant grace was upon them all.

This confronts me a lot because when I really understand that Jesus conquered death, something in my life is supposed to look different. The resurrection is not just a truth I believe; it is a reality that begins to be reflected in how I am living. Grace should be seen in the way I speak, grace in the way I treat others, and grace even when circumstances are not easy. Because if Christ lives in me, then, once again, His life also begins to be noticed in my everyday life. So, the fruit of the resurrection is not just a spiritual emotion, but visible evidence.

Romans 6 should also touch us. This passage says that we were buried with Him and that we can now walk in newness of life. It is not only that Jesus came out of the tomb; it also means that I don't have to live in my old life anymore. So, in Christ, there is a new life, and that life begins immediately. That changes everything; it means that my past does not define me. It means that sin does not have the last word, that guilt has no permanent authority over my heart. Because He is risen, I can begin to walk differently. Walking in a new life involves a daily decision; it is not something automatic or simple. It is remembering every day who I am in Christ, it is choosing to respond patiently when I previously reacted with anger, to trust when I previously doubted, and to serve when I previously thought only of myself. That is the fruit of the resurrection: a real transformation.

One thing I really like about Acts 4 is that the fruit wasn't just individual; grace was over everyone. So, when a woman lives connected to the Vine, her life inevitably impacts others; their faith is strengthened, their hope is contagious, and their witness is encouraging. The resurrection also produces courage. The apostles preached even with threats around. Why? Because when you know that death has already been defeated, fear loses strength.

Sometimes I, Abbi, want fruit without the necessary process. I want quick changes, I want to see immediate results, but Romans 6 also tells us about being planted together with Him. Planting involves depth, roots, and time. This fruit does not appear overnight, but it does come when we abide in Him.

In conclusion:

1. Being connected to the Vine does not mean there are no struggles; it means that life constantly flows from Christ to me.
2. The resurrection is not just a doctrine that I believe—it is a reality that I must live by.
3. And if Christ truly lives in me, it should be evident in some way.

In what area of your life do you need to remember today that Christ is resurrected in order to begin to walk in that new life that He has already given you?

Written by Elane Bernardo, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries inCaruaru, Pernambuco

 If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches. If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches…Do not be arrogant, but tremble. (Ro 11:16-18a, 20b NIV)

Beloved sisters,

With affection, I invite you, before proceeding with this reading, to pray and ask God to speak to your heart through His Word, just as He has spoken and deeply touched my heart.

There is a very common tendency in the human heart: to look at the fruit before looking at the root.

People seek change, growth, spiritual strength, and transformation, but often all of this is pursued through their own efforts, as if life with God depended on the ability to produce visible results.

Romans 11 shows us another way.

It presents the image of an olive tree, with a sacred root and branches that live from the sap that comes from it. Some branches have been broken off, while others, which did not originally belong to the tree, have been grafted on. This image not only explains a spiritual truth, but also repositions the heart.

Life doesn't begin in the branch.
Strength doesn’t lie in the branch.
Fruit doesn't grow from the branch.
Everything comes from the root.

The holiness mentioned in verse 16 is not something produced, but transmitted. The branches only participate in this life because they are connected to that which is holy. This confronts a spirituality based on effort, where one tries to produce fruit without prioritizing connection.

Bearing fruit is not about producing something for God, but about allowing His life to manifest itself through those who are truly connected to the root. When this truth is forgotten, what should be fruitful becomes an attempt. What should flow becomes a burden. And spiritual life begins to be lived as constant effort, not as dependence.

The text also presents an important warning: some branches were broken off by unbelief. This reveals that it is not enough to be near. It is not enough to appear to be a part of something. Permanence is not sustained by appearances, but by faith.

And it is at this point that the Word clearly directs: "Do not be arrogant, but tremble."Spiritual pride is silent. It doesn't necessarily manifest itself in words, but in self-sufficiency. It arises when there is confidence in one's own path, when dependence on God ceases to be daily and becomes occasional.

But the truth remains: it is not the branch that supports the root. It is the root that supports the branch.

When this is forgotten, the connection weakens. Structure may still exist, there may still be an appearance of life, but the flow of sap is no longer the same. And without sap, there is no fruit.

On the other hand, when there is a true connection, the fruit becomes inevitable. It manifests itself in attitudes, choices, and the way of living in the face of daily situations--not as something forced, but as evidence of a life sustained by God.

The text concludes with a serious warning: if God did not spare the natural branches, neither should we live carelessly before Him. This does not point to fear, but to reverence—a conscious, aligned, and dependent life—a life that understands that being grafted in is a grace, and that remaining is a daily decision.

Therefore, bearing fruit doesn't begin with what one does, but with where one is connected. And in light of this, a necessary question remains:

Has life been lived from the root that sustains it, or is there still an attempt to produce fruit through one's own strength?

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?

Written by Kat Bittner, volunteerwith 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:

1. ​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.
2. ​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."
3. 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.