Fruit Juice 通电
Dexu Xia
Fruit Juice
I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit. John 15:5
A thrift-store bargain, the lamp seemed perfect for my home office—the right color, size, and price. Back at home, however, when I plugged in the cord, nothing happened. No light. No power. No juice.
No problem, my husband assured me. “I can fix that. Easy.” As he took the lamp apart, he saw the trouble immediately. The plug wasn’t connected to anything. Without wiring to a source of power, the “perfect” pretty lamp was useless.
The same is true for us. Jesus told His disciples, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit.” But then he added this reminder: “Apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
This teaching was given in a grape-growing region, so His disciples readily understood it. Grapevines are hardy plants, and their branches tolerate vigorous pruning. Cut off from their life source, however, the branches are worthless deadwood. So it is with us.
As we remain in Jesus and let His words dwell in us, we’re wired to our life source—Christ Himself. “This is to my Father’s glory,” said Jesus, “that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples” (v. 8). Such a fruitful outcome needs daily nourishment, however. Freely, God provides it through the Scriptures and His love. So plug in and let the juice flow!
What does it mean for you to remain in Jesus? How has He equipped you to bear fruit for Him?
All-powerful God, empower me to remain in You and allow Your loving Word to yield good fruit in me.
通电
我是葡萄树，你们是枝子；常在我里面的，我也常在他里面，这人就多结果子。—约翰福音15章5节
这盏灯是我从二手商店买来的特价品，对我的居家办公室来说，无论是颜色、尺寸与价格都很完美。我回到家将电灯接上电源，这盏灯却毫无动静。灯没亮，也没通电。
丈夫向我保证他能修好。他把灯拆开，立刻看到问题。插头里面根本没有电线。没有电线连接电源，这盏“完美”的灯也属无用之物。
这个道理对我们也适用。耶稣告诉门徒：“我是葡萄树，你们是枝子；常在我里面的，我也常在他里面，这人就多结果子。”接着祂又说：“因为离了我，你们就不能做什么。”（约翰福音15章5节）
耶稣是在种植葡萄的地区说了这些话，所以门徒很容易理解祂的这番教导。葡萄树是耐力很强的植物，无论怎么修剪枝子都不会妨碍生长。但那些枝子一旦与供应生命的源头隔绝，就成了无用的枯木。我们也是如此。
当我们常在耶稣里，让祂的话住在我们里面，我们就连接上生命的源头耶稣基督。耶稣说：“你们多结果子，我父就因此得荣耀，你们也就是我的门徒了”（8节）。然而，想要结实累累，就需要每日滋养。上帝透过圣经和祂的爱，白白地供应我们所需的养分。所以，记得要接通电源！
全能的上帝，求祢帮助我能常在祢里面，
并让祢慈爱的话语，在我里面结出美好的果实。
对你而言，何谓“常在耶稣里”？
上帝如何装备你，让你为祂结出果实？