What are the Conditions of Your Leaves?

The other day my kids and I were out running a few errands and decided stop to eat lunch. While I was getting the baby out of the van my son proceeded to pull leaves off of the tree we had parked beside.

"What are you doing!?!" I said.

"Uh, pulling these leaves off this tree", replied my son.

"Duh? (I thought) Stop! That tree doesn't belong to you and does not appreciate little boys pulling off its leaves. Would you like it if someone started pulling off your fingers? (fingers?- that's all I could think of)", I said in the famous mommy tone of voice.

Through the look of horror in his eyes he said, "I don't want anyone to pull off my fingers. I'll stop."

And to that we went inside to eat. When we came back outside to get into the van, my son ran over to look at all the leaves he had pulled off of the tree. He was surprised at what he found. No longer were those big leaves the bright shade of green they had been only about 45 minutes ago; now they were shriveled up half dead brown leaves.

"Look mom", he said "the leaves are dieing."

This happened several days ago but I haven't been able to get it out of my mind and off my heart. It has reminded me of the passage in John 15 where Jesus is speaking of the vine, the Vinedresser, and the branches that are or are not bearing fruit.

"Abide in Me (Jesus), and I in you. As the branch cannot bear
fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you,

unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches.

He who abides in me, and I in him,
bears much fruit; for without me you can do nothing.

If anyone does not abide in
me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered."

John 15:4-6a, NKJV

Just like the leaves my son pulled from the tree that withered up and could no longer bear fruit for the tree, we too, when we are not abiding in Him will wither and cease to bear fruit for the Lord. Sadly, there are many things that tend to pull us from the vine- our jobs, our families, poor time management, hobbies, friends, the list could go on and on. As other things take precedent over our relationship with the Vinedresser it becomes evident by the condition of our leaves and the fruit, or lack there of, that we are bearing.

What are the conditions of your leaves today? Are they a bright shade of the light of His glory because you spent time basking in His love this morning? Or, have they become dull and withered because other things have pulled you away from your time with Him?

Sweet friend, remain in Him and bear much fruit so that He is glorified.

"By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so
you will be My disciples."

John 15:8, NKJV