This is usually the time for resolutions. But not by our own power rather to seel to grow by God's grace and faithfulness.
The priority and promise of fruitfulness
Jesus calls himself the true vine. This is in comparison to Israel. The people are supposed to bear fruit for God. Psalm 80:8-9 talks about it. A vine is only good for fruit. If it does not, it cannot be used for building. It is a term of judgement.
Jesus lives the fruitful life we could not live. He dies the death we deserve, as a seed does, so that we would have life.
This promise of fruitfulness is not prosperity. It is not just getting what we want. It is spiritual fruit. We would grow in godly character. We would have greater joy in Christ. And finally, we would have influence on those around us.
Grape without the vowels.
Gazing at Jesus with love and awe
Renewed character
Pointing others to Christ
John 15:2;6 says that there are no unfruitful christians. All christians are fruitful. So those who do not bear fruit are probably not saved. If you have not changed since you've made a profession of faith, then you don't know Christ. It is not about the quantity of fruit. But all christians will bear fruit. God is not happy with just giving us a foot in heaven.
The power of fruitfulness
In order to bear fruit, we need to abide in Christ. There are two senses of abiding. In one sense, all christians are grafted into Christ when we place our faith in Christ. In another sense there is a conditional abiding. Communion is the word for this. In that way, we can choose to abide in him or we can choose to avoid him. This explains the difference among Christians. Those who seek out Christ actively are very different. They talk differently, they have an intimacy with God. We even see this within our lives. Past times of deep abiding in Christ seem like faint memories.
As a side note, spiritual fruit is not always visible. It is not always obvious. It is not about just activity.
Practically promoting fruitfulness
John 15:7 tells us that prayer and the bible is how we abide. When we are constantly in the word, we realize our need for Christ's power. It drives us to the cross and prayer.
Finally, God uses pain. He prunes. God will use pain and suffering to make us even more fruitful. He cuts off perfectly good branches and fruit, so that we would bear even more fruit. God will take away success, money, health, friends...soo that we would seek Him. So that we would depend on God. This is done in love. God's desire is not the same as ours.
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