My Identity in Christ is Fruitful

I love to listen to a good podcast. It’s a great way to occupy my mind when my hands are busy cleaning the kitchen or folding laundry. My favorites are the conversations with women like me who are raising families and doing amazing things for the kingdom, whether it’s writing, speaking, building up a new business. I’m usually inspired and encouraged by these women and their stories of getting the work done!

Usually.

If I’m totally honest, sometimes I listen to these interviews and just feel tired. How in the world do they have time to do this AND that?! Even more, why am I not accomplishing as much?

Stop Comparing

One of my favorite stories in the Bible is when Jesus has returned from death and is preparing his disciples to continue ministry without him. He takes Peter aside for some one on one time.

“Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?”

When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?”

Jesus said to him, ‘If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!’” (John 21:20-22)

In other words, Peter (Jaime!) mind your own business!

When I start playing the comparison game, it’s helpful to remember who I am in Christ and what he’s called me to do.

A branch in the Vine…a promise of Fruit

Ephesians 2:10 tells us,

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

I love knowing that I was made with a purpose in mind! God has prepared things for me to do! But how do I know I’m living that purpose?

Jesus told his disciples,

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5, NIV)

Another passage that helps me with this visual is Psalm 1:1-3:

“Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

but his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.”

Fruit takes a full year to go from seed to harvest, but every season is a part of the process. So even when it’s quiet in my world and it doesn’t seem like I’m doing anything, I can rest in knowing that I am a branch, connected to Christ, and fruit will come.