Jesus is Alive in His branches

We used to have three beautiful plum trees growing alongside our driveway. I watered them, trimmed and fertilized them with tender, loving care. They, in turn, produced every spring. The plums were so very delicious. I only wish we had not moved or when we did that we could have taken those trees with us.

Christians often get into long discussions about fruit bearing. I don't mean trees, but people. How necessary is it for a Christian, one who has accepted Jesus Christ as his/her Savior and Lord, to do good works? And can one be a Christian without some evidence that the Spirit of Jesus lives within?

Jesus commented about this and John recorded it in John 15:1-17. There our Lord pointed out that we are not the tree, but rather branches. The tree he spoke about was a grape vine. Like my plum tree, the grape vine in all its wondrous varieties, puts out branches from which those great clusters grow. Harvest the grapes and turn them into jelly, juice and wine. Ah, the joy.

Check it out. Wherever there are believers, there are good works. People care for the sick in Rochester, adopt orphaned children of Haiti, drill wells in Africa so people can water their crops and start food banks for unemployed in Cleveland. The varieties are endless, but the evidence is everywhere. The Spirit of the living Christ is at work in His branches.

The whole discussion about whether believers must do good works begs the question. I never got into any such discussion with my plum trees. It would have been pointless even if I could. They'd simply reply, "Master, that's what we are and that's what we do."