by: Staci Stallings
I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it, that it may bear more fruit. –John 15: 1-2
Every so often a misinterpretation corrected sends shock waves through my life. Thus it was with this Bible verse. I had always defined “bear” as meaning to produce. In other words, “Every branch in Me that does not produce fruit, He takes away…” Then I began reading about how God doesn’t expect us to do things for Him, no, He wants to do things through us if we allow Christ and the Holy Spirit to take over our lives to such a degree that it is them doing the doing and not us.
Okay, but there was still this verse. Clearly it says if I am in Him, I will produce fruit. Right? Well, maybe.
I give you this new insight to ponder, not so that you can accept it outright, but so that you can try it on in your life and see if it fits.
There is a second definition of “bear” I had never considered. It is actually the first definition of the word. Bear means to carry or to hold.
Does that make any difference in how you read this verse? “Every branch in Me that does not hold fruit, He takes away…” To me, holding is much different than producing. Holding is passive. Someone else has done all the hard work to produce it, all I have to do is be strong enough in Christ to hold the fruit He’s producing in my life!
You know, looking back, I wonder how much fruit I didn’t “hold” because I was so busy trying to “produce” fruit on my own. I wasn’t focused on what God was doing in my life, I was focused on what I was doing for Him. Trust me on this, the difference between the two in theory and in practice are huge!
The funny thing is, since I’ve stopped trying to produce fruit for Him, fruit in abundance has come into my life. In my books, in my kids, in my marriage, in our finances. Things I used to work so hard to accomplish (which never seemed to work out) are suddenly heaped upon me in blessing after blessing. I am convinced it’s because I stopped trying to produce and started being content to hold what He’s producing in and through me that this change has come about.
So, as I said before, consider this simple yet profound modification in the way you define “bear.” It may well change your entire life!
A stay-at-home mom with a husband, three kids and a writing addiction on the side, Staci Stallings has numerous titles for readers to choose from. Not content to stay in one genre and write it to death, Staci’s stories run the gamut from young adult to adult, from motivational and inspirational to full-out Christian and back again. Every title is a new adventure! That’s what keeps Staci writing and you reading. Although she lives in Amarillo, Texas and her main career right now is her family, Staci touches the lives of people across the globe with her various Internet and writing endeavors.
I LOVE this! I’ve let the teachings I’ve heard on the idea of “bear” being “produce” that the idea that it might mean something else never occurred to me. Wonderful devotion today, Staci. Thank you!
You’re welcome! Changed my life, that’s for sure!
Wow! That tweak in one word’s meaning makes such an amazing difference, Staci. Thank you for this. I think it’s a lesson God is working very hard to teach this Ms Do-It-Herself here!
I know it made a ton of difference in my life! It is SO MUCH FUN holding and being grateful for all of the fruit God produces in my life. It was exhausting and defeating trying to “produce” enough fruit to feel worthy of being tied to the vine.
Great and timely post, Staci. I’d never read that verse that way. Thanks for pointing it out.
So true. Jesus goes on to say that we can ONLY produce though Him, all we need to do is stay connected. But it’s way too easy for us to get caught up in feeling me need to do the work.
As a bonus, your post sent me off to look at the original Greek and check the meanings of the words. I need all the encouragement I can get to stick with my Greek studies ;)
I’m very much a beginner in New Testament Greek, but I found that the word translated bear, “phero” does mean carry or bring, not in the sense of producing or making or bringing forth young, but more like me saying “I’ll bring a cake for afternoon tea”, or “I’ll bring Arthur to the Bible study”. It’s a complete contrast to the word translated as do in verse 5, apart from me you can do nothing, “poieo”, which DOES mean produce!
A much-appreciated insight, Staci. We women can get so busy and feel like the world is on our shoulders, but taking the time to just pause and be passive and see what God has for us is so important.
That’s awesome, Autumn! “Bearing” God into our lives, i.e. bringing. :)
So glad it was meaningful!
Funny how me “holding what God is producing” doesn’t feel passive at all. Sometimes I’m like, “Okay, God, give me a second here… this is a LOT of fruit!” :)
Wow, Staci…I never really knew this!! I always took it as producing fruit in our lives that we’re suppose to be doing, but THIS brings a whole new perspective to the verse. Sure gives me something to meditate on further and study deeper. Food for thought for sure!! Thanks for sharing, sure appreciate a different perspective :-)
So glad it changed your perspective. I know I got exhausted all those years from trying to “produce” enough not to be cut off. Holding is MUCH more fun!