Bloom Where You’re Planted

 

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that remains, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.  John 15:16

 You did not choose me, but I chose you

 I did not choose Jesus, Jesus chose me. Without Jesus, I was lost. I had no hope. There was nothing I could do about it. So often we encourage people to, “Make a decision for God,” but on their own they can never do that. It is only when Jesus chooses them that they feel the need and the clarity to make Him their Savior. I don’t claim to understand or seek to explain the intricacies of this. I trust that God, in His perfect wisdom and timing, has it all worked out. What I do know, and need to take away in remembrance from this verse, is that it’s all about Jesus. His will, His plan, His timing.

 and appointed you

 I have been put where I am in this world, in life, in health, in everything, on purpose, for a purpose. I am appointed. What does that mean? Webster used a lot of words to clarify this concept, as did Strong, but certain aspects of this stand out to me today. The word used by John when he wrote his gospel for “appointed” has very specific connotations. Had he used a slightly different word, it would have indicated an upright or active position (to stand). Yet another word would have painted the picture of laying someone down in a prostrate position (to lie). But this version of the word used indicates one being set somewhere in a passive or horizontal posture. The end of Strong’s definition is to, “settle, sink down.” I think about times where I’ve placed a child or a dog where I wanted them for a picture. What’s the first thing they do? Move from where I’ve put them. But Jesus is putting us exactly where He needs us to be, and we ought to pay attention to that. Why am I here? What is the purpose behind it all? I may never know on this earth, and that doesn’t matter. What matters is that I trust God that He has put me here, and this is where I’m supposed to be.

 to go and bear fruit, fruit that remains

 What are we to do where we are? Bear fruit. What kind of fruit? Fruit that remains. It seems so simple that we are likely to skip over it when reading, but take a moment to slow down and let it sink in. In order for us to bear fruit, we need to be in relationship with the Holy Spirit. We need to be in the Word and spending time in prayer, communicating with our Heavenly Father. The fruit we are bearing is not our own! We aren’t trying really, really, really hard and finally accomplishing some amazing thing. That’s not what Jesus is asking of us here. The fruit He is referring to is the Fruit of the Spirit, or the evidence of the Holy Spirit at work in our lives. This is the fruit that remains.

 so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you

 I’ll be entirely honest, I almost skipped this part. This is a beautiful and important promise, but one I just don’t get. Earlier in this study we looked at verse 7 of this chapter which says just about the same thing. In the month since we looked at it, I have not had any epiphanies. I don’t have any further understanding of my lack of understanding. I stand by what I wrote before, and I still live in it. I don’t get it, but I believe it. I can’t see His hand, but I trust His heart.

Here's the Thing: God put me where I’m at for a reason. He doesn’t want me to bust out of it and run away, He wants me to live in it and bear His fruit in it. He wants His love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control to be shown through me in the midst of my not great circumstances. Perhaps that even highlights their beauty more. I need to submit to that and rest in His peace and presence.

Abiding in Jesus

  1. Week 1: Trusting the Gardener's Work
    1. John 15:1 - Seven Things Jesus Is
    2. John 15:2 - Pinch Those Suckers Out!
    3. Philippians 2:12-13 - Working Out My Salvation
    4. Matthew 5:16 - Stay Salty!
    5. 1 John 1:6 - Walking in Relationship
  2. Week 2: Bearing Lasting Fruit
    1. John 15:3-4 - It Takes Two to Abide
    2. John 15:5 - Grafted In
    3. John 15:6 - The Most Important Post You'll Ever Read
    4. Psalm 1:1-3 - What We Expect to See
    5. Galatians 5:22 - The Fruit of the Spirit's Not a Coconut!
  3. Week 3: Abiding in Jesus Through His Word
    1. John 15:7-8 - Lost in the Wilderness
    2. John 8:31-32 - The Truth Shall Set You Free
    3. Psalm 119:9-11 - Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth
    4. Psalm 119:15-16 - Considering His Ways
    5. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 - How is He Going to Use THAT?!?
  4. Week 4: Abiding in Jesus Through Obedience
    1. John 15:9-10 - Love, Honor and Obey
    2. James 1:22 - The Forgetful Listener
    3. 1 John 3:24 - How Can I Know if I Have the Holy Spirit in Me?
    4. Matthew 7:24-25 - What's Your House Made Of?
    5. John 14:23-24 - Obeying with All My Heart
  5. Week 5: Abiding in Jesus Through Love
    1. John 15:11-12 - Waking Up on the Right Side of the Bed
    2. John 15:13-14 - Laying Down Your Life
    3. 1 John 4:10 - In This is Love
    4. 1 John 4:11-12 - Loving our Enemies
    5. Romans 12:9-13 - Roadmap to Abiding in Christ
  6. Week 6: Chosen and Commissioned by Christ to Bear Fruit
    1. John 15:15 - A Friend that Sticks Closer than a Brother
    2. John 15:16 - Bloom Where You’re Planted
    3. Ephesians 2:10 - Do the Thing in Front of You
    4. Galatians 6:9 - We Must Not Grow Weary in Doing Good
    5. John 15:17 - What Does Abiding in Christ Look Like?

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