There is a sense of rest in knowing that fruit is a result of yielding to God’s Spirit and of my staying connected to the Vine. That it isn’t about me trying harder, but abiding in Him, so that He does the growing in me.

What is the fruit of the Spirit? It is Christlike character:

   LOVE    JOY    PEACE    PATIENCE    KINDNESS    GOODNESS

FAITHFULNESS    GENTLENESS    SELF-CONTROL  – Gal. 5:22,23

‘I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.’  – (John 15:5) NASB

abide is a verb: actively attach yourself to Him, that is how you receive nourishment

The character that is inherent in the root shows itself in the branches. ‘For if the roots of the tree are holy, the branches will be too.’  – (Romans 11:16)

                     fruit is a result of yielding to God’s Spirit…

from Strong’s Concordance: karpos: fruit  USAGE: (a) fruit, generally vegetable, sometimes animal, (b) met: fruit, deed, action, result, (c) profit, gain.

(We see here the Greek ‘for fruit (karpos) shows one definition is a result of something.

from HELPS Word-studies: karpos – properly, fruit; (figuratively) everything done in true partnership with Christ, i.e. a believer (a branch) lives in union with Christ (the Vine). By definition, fruit (karpos) results from two life-streams – the Lord living His life through ours – to yield what is eternal. (cf. 1 Jn 4:17)

…..because as He is, so are we in this world.  – (1 John 4:17) KJB

Picture to yourself for a moment, the image of a vibrant, healthy pear tree. Nearby, lying on the ground, is a branch with a new blossom. This branch has somehow broken off and is now separated and lying on the ground. That little blossom can try and try and try to grow, but if it is separated from the tree and from the ‘food’ that comes up from the roots, growing is futile. If a branch is not attached to a tree or vine, even if it just a fraction of an inch away, it is still cut off from receiving the life-giving nourishment…that branch with the blossom will wither and die.

There is no lukewarm way for a branch to be attached. So, I need to keep my eyes fixed on Jesus, surrender, listen, follow, trust, depend on, cling to, and abide in Him.