Hello and welcome back to Van Life Devotions. We are in Canberra and even though I lived here for 10-years, I didn’t know that this region has 140 vineyards and more than 50 wineries within 35 minutes' drive of the city.
In our last two devotions, we shared from John chapter 14 that one reason to be a follower of Jesus is to be filled with the Holy Spirit. In John 15, Jesus gave further teaching saying, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit…” (John 15:5 NLT).
This is another reason to be a follower of Jesus. He gives you what you need to serve Him. You are not left to your own devices instead the Holy Spirit empowers you with what the Bible calls “Fruit of the Spirit” and “Spiritual Gifts”.
The Bible says that “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23 NIV). These are Godly attitudes that the Holy Spirit gives followers to be more like Jesus. For me, I need to really pray into some of these as they are not my natural character traits. They are such beautiful attitudes to have that truly testify to God’s transformation in your life. God really wants to make you into a better person.
The Bible also says, “There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all” (1 Corinthians 12:4 NLT). Spiritual gifts are supernatural abilities bestowed by the Holy Spirit on followers to serve God and others. These gifts are not natural talents that you have but are given by God to be used for the building up of God’s kingdom. The Bible lists over 20 such spiritual gifts as examples such as discernment, leadership, wisdom, giving, mercy, and hospitality. This is a whole area of study that I teach in the Growth Track series.
Going back to the vineyard illustration, Jesus had been comparing Himself to a vine and His followers as the branches of the vine. Some branches continued in the vine, that is, remained in living union with the vine, so that the sap or life constantly flowed into these branches. Everything in them was simply the outcome of the life of the vine flowing into them. Their buds, leaves, blossoms, and fruit came through their dependence on remaining on the vine. Other branches were completely severed from the vine and therefore no flow of the sap or life of the vine came to the branches bearing no fruit. Followers need to remain in Christ so their spiritual gifts and fruit will develop and grow, making a difference.
Branches do not eat the fruit: others do. Followers don’t produce fruit to please themselves but to bless others.
Corrie ten Boom was a Dutch Christian watchmaker who, along with her family, helped hid Jews from the Nazis during the Holocaust. Incredibly she was one of the few who survived the Ravensbrück concentration camp.
After the war, Corrie was speaking at a church in Germany when a former Nazi prison guard from Ravensbrück approached her. He did not recognize her, but she recognized him - he had been one of the cruellest guards in the camp. He extended his hand to thank her for her message about forgiveness.
Corrie said that every fibre of her being resisted forgiving him. She was flooded with memories of the suffering her sister Betsie endured and the humiliation they had faced. But the Holy Spirit was prompting her to forgive.
She silently prayed for strength, and as she reached out her hand to shake his, she described a sudden sensation like a current of warmth flowing through her arm. As she touched his hand, the pain lifted, and she felt genuine love and forgiveness wash over her. She discerned that this was not from herself—it was God’s Spirit who empowered her with fruit of self-control and kindness, and the spiritual gifts of words of wisdom that spoke into the heart of former guard and the gift of mercy that she extended to him. And God brought healing to Corrie.
Why be a follower of Jeus? Because God wants the best for you and others by blessing you with fruit of the spirit and spiritual gifts.
I invite you to pray this prayer with me:
Father God.
I am sorry that I am a sinner.
Thank you for forgiving me on the cross.
Help me to remain in You so that Your Holy Spirit
empowers me with Your fruit and spiritual gifts to bless others.
Enable me to put my trust in You and
to obey Your teachings.
In Jesus’ name
Amen
David Moyes
