Every day we have a new opportunity to choose who we are going to listen to. We can either choose a person, past circumstances, our own opinions, past failures and accomplishments, or the media. Everything around us has a voice that wants to be heard. We have a choice to give our ears to the truth and facts or to lies and gossip.

Who is directing your life? Is it a life full of healthy thoughts and beliefs or defeat, sadness, fear, and doubts? You will know by the fruit that you are presenting to others and to yourself. We can be compared to a tree. Our character is the root of the tree. Our reputation is the shadow of the tree.  Our influence is the fruit of the tree.

How are you influencing others with your testimony? What is holding and molding your tree?  Is there healthy soil that we are rooted in (Christ alone)? Is there enough water nurturing your tree (the word of God)? Is there enough sunlight given to your tree (praise and worship life)? Your tree will be bearing fruit according to the nourishment, attention, and care that you give to your spirit, soul, and body.

Let’s see what the Master of creation said about the subject. As a man, Jesus foresaw the deepest need of humans. This need is a true relationship with the Father and abiding communion. Jesus called this discipleship. In John 15:5, Jesus points out something very important: I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

Jesus made it clear that apart from Him we can do nothing, but with Him we can bear much fruit. Jesus meant what He said and said what He meant. Jesus is the source of who we truly are. Like a tree, we want to abide in Jesus and bear good fruit for His Kingdom. Our desire should be to continuously be mentored by Jesus and to be aware of who He is through everything that we do, always alert and always ready to give good fruit to those around us.

We were born so others can live and see Jesus in us. Fulfillment will only happen when we avail ourselves to be used by Him in all aspects of our lives:  spiritually, mentally, and physically. When we stand in His presence one day, we want to stand as a brother, a true believer, and ultimately as a true disciple of Jesus.

There is no other teacher that we can lean on or follow.  We must follow Jesus because John 15:5 is correct: apart form Him we cannot be or do nothing.  So our challenge today is to spend time with the only Master who is ready to guide us and instruct us for Kingdom business.  We should always ready.