We are writing reflections based on the scripture passage, John 15:1-15 and its theme, Abiding in the Vine. We are taking one verse per week and we invite you to join us in first meditating and digesting this passage slowly using lectio divina and then read the reflection. Our writers will be sharing testimony of how this scripture has impacted their lives personally.
For those new to our community, lectio divina is a traditional monastic practice of engaging with Scripture not just for intellectual understanding but to allow the Word of God to speak to the heart and transform our lives. It involves prayerfully reading the scripture four times, pausing to notice the following:
- Read the verse and listen for the word or phrase that the Holy Spirit highlights for you.
- Read the verse and ask the question, how is my life touched by this word? What in my life needs to hear this word?
- Read the verse and ask what is my response to God because of what I have read and encountered? What am I feeling, talk to God about it, listen to Him, feel His uninterrupted love and attention toward you and follow His lead in any way He is prompting you to respond.
- Read and rest in the Word and resolve to live it out.
Listen:
“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” (John 15:8 NIV).
Reflect:
I am created for one purpose and one purpose only: to bring glory to God. Therefore, being fruitful is not optional as a disciple of Jesus who is growing in maturity. When my life bears abundant fruits, I demonstrate my yieldedness to my calling: created to glorify God.
My overarching goal for 2025 is “Increasing Capacity To Impact Lives For Good and For God’s Glory.” It is the most colourful thread that must shine through the tapestry of all I do in every sphere of my life in 2025. It is a clarion call to fruitfulness.
The purpose of our existence is to bring glory to God (Isaiah 43:8), and according to John 15:8, the only way to fulfil our God-given purpose is by bearing much fruit. Therefore, fruitfulness must be the hallmark of all Christ’s disciples.
Bearing much fruit is the result of living a believer yielded and surrendered to the life overflowing from the True Vine, Jesus Christ. When we are vitally connected to Him, fruitfulness becomes the visible evidence of His life flowing through ours.
Fruitfulness will stream from within us when we live in union with Jesus, the perpetual Source of life, sustenance and nourishment we require for growth. The abundance of our harvest and fruitfulness is directly linked to the depth of our intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.
Producing abundant fruit means that I am not settling for minimal growth or impact. It is a life overflowing with spiritual vitality that blesses others and testifies consistently of God’s goodness—making a resounding impact.
Ultimately, bearing much fruit that brings glory to God is about Kingdom impact—living a life that attracts others to God through Jesus. A harvest of souls brings joy and glory to God.
Prayer of Response:
Lord, my earnest heart’s desire is for You to receive all the glory and honour due to You in my life. Grant me the grace to live each day yielded to the purpose for which You created me. May my life here on earth have an eternal impact for Your glory.
Questions to Ponder:
- Are you living each day with eternity in view and making decisions to increase your capacity for Kingdom impact?
- Where in your life is God calling you to yield to His pruning and become vitally connected to Him so He can produce more fruit through you?
Breath Prayers:
As a new weekly rhythm, join us in praying breath prayers each day. We invite you to write your own as well.
Inhale (Breathe in): Lord, I yield.
Exhale (Breathe out): Produce abundant fruit through me and get all the glory.
—Submitted by: Irene Olumese
Irene is a lung transplant survivor and bilateral amputee who speaks and writes to inspire hope. As a certified Faith-Informed Transformational and Trauma Coach, Irene helps those wounded by life’s adversities heal the pain of their traumatic experiences and transform it into power, purpose and purpose that will serve eternal value. Irene is the Founder of the Feet of Grace Foundation, a charity organisation that provides prosthetic rehabilitation services and opportunities for a better life for indigent amputees. She lives in Geneva with her husband, Peter and two adult sons.
Photo of tree created on Canva by Irene Olumese.