No Sap?

"If there is no sap in the tree, it will not bear fruit"

This little proverb clearly illuminates an ongoing problem among many of us . We see a lack of obedience in our lives and so then condemnation comes. We try and try and try and we are left all tired out and ready to give up.

Dear friends, the secret is in the sap! "Trying" to bear fruit is fruitless, frustrating work! Our Lord Jesus Christ, through His Spirit, is the one who produces the fruit- not us! It's hopeless without Him!

If we try to do it, we will always come up short.
It is through Him abiding in us- and us abiding in Him that we are able to walk as He walked; because now, He walks in us!
If we can grab hold of that truth- it will set us free from the burden of an endless list of do's and don'ts!

So many times our focus gets off of Him and onto us.
"I should be doing better" we say.
Oh no, *I* is NOT the answer!
It is by His Spirit in us that we can obey.
God loves to produce fruit! He can't help but do so.
Our hope must be fixed completely on Him and on His grace- not on our ability to do better.
We must not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead! It's all about God... It's all about HIM!