How can we ensure our lives bear fruit, avoiding the fate in Ezekiel 15:5? Setting the Stage: Ezekiel’s Worthless Vine Ezekiel 15:5 warns, “Indeed, when it was whole and unscathed, it could not be made into anything useful. How much less, when the fire has consumed it and it is charred, can it ever be made into anything!” God compares Jerusalem to a vine so barren that even its wood is useless for crafting; once charred, it is only good for the fire. The picture is sobering: a life that never bears fruit ultimately faces judgment and loss. Recognizing the Warning • A vine’s sole purpose is to produce grapes; without fruit, it is worthless. • Likewise, our God-given purpose is to display His character and advance His kingdom. • Jesus echoes the warning: “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire” (Matthew 7:19). Jesus’ Answer: Abiding in the True Vine John 15:5: “I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing.” • Fruitfulness is not self-generated; it flows from a living, continual connection with Christ. • Separation from Him leads inevitably to the Ezekiel 15 outcome—dryness and burning. Five Practices that Cultivate Fruitfulness 1. Stay rooted in Scripture • Meditate on and obey God’s Word (Psalm 1:1-3). • “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only” (James 1:22). 2. Walk in daily dependence on the Holy Spirit • The Spirit produces “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). • Keep short accounts with God; confess sin quickly so nothing blocks the Spirit’s flow. 3. Pursue growth in Christlike character • 2 Peter 1:5-8 lists qualities we must “make every effort” to add—faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, love. • These qualities “keep you from being ineffective and unproductive.” 4. Engage in loving service • Fruit often appears as good works that bless others (Ephesians 2:10). • Serve in the local church, care for neighbors, share the gospel; fruit multiplies through obedient action. 5. Trust God through every season • Jeremiah 17:7-8 pictures the fruitful tree whose roots reach water even in drought. • Trials test our roots; steadfast faith releases a sweeter harvest. Living Branches, Not Charred Sticks Take Ezekiel’s warning to heart. Remain in Christ, keep His Word central, yield to the Spirit, and actively serve. Such lives bear enduring fruit and stand in radiant contrast to the lifeless vine cast into the flames. |
    |