Man made standards. Who do they think they are??

[snicker1986]

Originally Posted by Sam

The purpose of the branch is to provide a place for the fruit to be displayed.
The branch does not struggle and toil to produce the fruit.
The fruit is automatically produced by the life that is flowing through and throughout the vine.
As long as the vine abides/continues in the vine, fruit will be produced.

Quite a few years ago I had a couple of tomato plants growing in amongst some flowers. I didn't really take care of them and they didn't produce any tomatoes. A neighbor was kidding me about them and said he had thought about attaching some of his tomatoes to them with clothes pins. This sound like some people who try to "attach" fruit to their lives by their own effort instead of allowing God to produce it as His life flows through them.

Galatians chapter 5 speaks of "the fruit of the Spirit" not about something that we are to artificially hang on the branches just for appearance sake.

Fruit displays that there is life in the branch and in the vine. Fruit will be apparent to the observer. If you are really attached to the vine, His life will produce fruit in your life.

Philippians 2:12-13 speaks of God working in us--both to will and to do of His pleasure. We can do, because God gives us the want to and the how to.

I dont post often - usually lurk - but had to reposnd here...

WOW - that was an amazing analogy - THANK YOU!