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

In today’s society, greater influence and larger accomplishments are often the measure of success. Many days, I feel rather unproductive, so once again, I realize I am becoming squeezed into the world’s mold. I need the Holy Spirit to transform my thinking because the world’s way of evaluating effectiveness and God’s promise to bear fruit through us are not the same.

When I received an email from a friend in Thailand, Butter, she encouraged me by sharing an example of how God uses the smallest, unlikely thing to bring about His purposes. (Butter and her sister, Jam, were named after her father’s favorite foods 😊)   At the end of her semester, two of her classmates independently approached Butter and shared how her humility to admit she did not understand and her courage to ask questions had been a testimony and emboldened them.  She was just being herself – intelligent and curious, and God was shining His light through her. She wasn’t intentional, but God was still at work.

A few weeks ago, we were talking to my son’s teacher after church. Although Joshua is not able to vocalize, he communicates using an I-Pad. Mrs. Baker said that Josh is a witness to her because every Monday he presses the button for church. It shows her how much he enjoys church and reminds her that it is important to be with other believers. God is speaking, using a child who is not verbal.  

In Acts 4:3, “When they (the onlookers) saw the courage of Peter and John and realized they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and took note that these men had been with Jesus.”  I am an ordinary woman, yet I want my life to bear witness that I, too, have been with Jesus.

Have you been abiding in Jesus? If so, God’s word assures us that He is bearing fruit for His glory in our lives.  Even when our lives seem unproductive or ineffective, we can rest in His promise that in Him our lives are indeed fruitful.