Remain

Fruit That Lasts

“Remain in me, and I will remain in you.” — John 15:4

This past week while spending time with my family at the lake, I walked past an old pear tree that stopped me in my tracks. It was absolutely loaded with pears—so much fruit that several of its branches had been propped up with wooden boards to keep them from breaking under the weight.

As I stood there looking at that tree, I thought about Eden. There is a lot of fruit growing on this tree. People are growing in faith, children are being discipled, leaders are developing, people are finding community and care, and new opportunities for ministry and healing are emerging. Perhaps in this season God isn't simply asking us to produce more. Perhaps He is teaching us how to remain in Him so that what He is producing through us becomes fruit that lasts.

Recently, Samantha Wright shared what she is experiencing through belonging to Eden:

A month into attending and I felt like people knew me. They knew my name. They remembered little things we had said in cordial conversation. I felt safe letting my daughter be without us present in the nursery (her peanut allergy scares me to let others who have not been around her care for her, and I mean that in no disrespect for the church and its volunteers) with the measures Hannah took to make others aware. The slide in the pre-serveice slide show made me tear up. We never expect people to bend over backwards for her allergy, ever. But to just bring awareness to it blew me away. And not only to the children's volunteers, but to the congregation! 

Kyle and I were early to service yesterday, by close to 40 minutes. We walked outside, admired the beautiful day and talked about how we are able bodies to help where we can, and we wanted to. I had already told Hannah I would help with her creative projects in the future and offered my service to paint.  After service yesterday, I immediately asked Hannah about children's ministry volunteering.  After talking with Jack before (and a little during the beginning of service haha) he connected Kyle to Paul to talk about how he could help with maintenance and such. 

I spent the afternoon at my mother's swimming with my family, her and my step dad... and all I could talk about was Eden. And how much we love it. How much we see what Eden offers and does for the community, how welcomed we feel, all of it. I bragged about the leadership conference and how people higher up in the ECC felt like normal people I would meet on a Sunday (not that they are not normal people, but I did not feel like they were more and held themselves above those under their title).

I have never felt the want and desire to serve. With Eden, I do. I have never felt like I was seen and heard. With Eden, I do. I have never experienced such a feeling of being welcomed, that people know my name (and remember haha), especially by worship leadership. With Eden, I do. 

I want to dive headfirst into the church community. With no hesitation. Thank you!

This week through Lectio 365, Jesus' words in John 15 have repeatedly invited us back to the Vine: “Remain in Me.” Jesus doesn't begin with “Try harder” or “Do more.” He says, Remain. Stay connected to Me. Receive your life from Me. Make your home in My love.

But remaining doesn't mean staying still. Jesus says, “I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit” (John 15:16). Remain—and go. The two belong together. We remain close to Jesus so that when He calls us forward, we recognize the voice of the One we have learned to trust.

Israel struggled with this in the wilderness. God had gone before them, guided them and cared for them. Deuteronomy even tells us He went ahead searching out the best places for them to camp. Yet when they saw the giants in the land, fear became louder than trust. They refused to go. Their story reminds us that remaining in God's presence is meant to form us into people who can trust Him when He leads us somewhere new.

And I keep returning to those wooden supports beneath that pear tree. They weren't holding up dying branches. They were supporting fruitful ones. Sometimes support isn't needed because something is wrong; sometimes support is needed because something is growing.

That may be an important word for us in this season. Healthy ministries need people. Leaders need prayer. Hurting people need care. New opportunities need resources. Our buildings need stewardship. Fruitful ministry requires generosity. Perhaps the question isn't simply, “What else can we do?” but “How can we faithfully support what God is already growing?”

As our leaders gather for retreat this week, our first invitation isn't to strategize—it is to remain. To listen. To pray. To discern where the Spirit is leading. There will be needs and opportunities ahead that we cannot yet see, but the God who calls us forward is already there.

We don't need to know everything about what comes next. We need to remain close to the One who does.

Remain in His love. Listen for His voice. Trust where He leads. Support what He is growing. And go bear fruit—fruit that will last.

Bearing Fruit with You,

Pastor T

Spiritual Practice

Find a tree this week and stop for a few moments. Notice its trunk, branches and leaves and how every branch depends upon its connection to the tree for life.

Become still and slowly pray Jesus' words: “Remain in Me.” As you breathe in, pray, “Jesus, I receive Your life.” As you breathe out, pray, “I release what I am carrying.”

Then ask: Where have I been trying to produce fruit apart from You? What are You growing in my life? What or whom are You inviting me to support?

End simply: Jesus, help me remain in You. Grow in me what You desire and produce through my life fruit that will last. Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. What helps you remain connected to Jesus, and what tends to pull you away from awareness of His presence?

2. Where do you see God producing fruit in your life, in another person, or in our church that needs to be encouraged and supported?

3. Where might God be inviting you to “go,” trust Him and take a next step of faith?