### **Faith That Bears Fruit**
📖 **Scripture:** John 15:5 – *”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.”*
🧐 **Q&A 64 from the Heidelberg Catechism:**
**Q. Does this teaching not make people careless and wicked?**
**A. No. It is impossible that those grafted into Christ by true faith should not bring forth fruits of thankfulness.**
### **Devotional Thought**
Have you ever seen a tree that doesn’t grow leaves or fruit? It looks lifeless, right? A tree that is alive and healthy naturally produces fruit. The same is true for our faith in Jesus! When we are truly connected to Him—like branches attached to a vine—we will naturally bear fruit in our lives.
Some people think that because salvation is a free gift, it means we can live however we want. But the Heidelberg Catechism reminds us that **true faith in Jesus always leads to a changed life**. If we are truly **grafted into Christ**, meaning we belong to Him, then we will **bear fruits of thankfulness**—things like love, kindness, patience, and obedience to God.
This doesn’t mean we have to be perfect. But it does mean that when we truly know Jesus, our hearts will want to follow Him. We won’t see obedience as a burden, but as a joyful response to His love.
### **Reflection Questions**
💭 What kind of “fruit” do you see in your life that shows your faith in Jesus?
💭 How can you grow closer to Jesus so that your life reflects His love more?
💭 What does it mean to be “grafted into Christ”?
### **Prayer**
🙏 *Lord Jesus, thank You for saving me by grace. Help me to stay connected to You like a branch to a vine, so that my life bears good fruit. Let my actions and words reflect Your love and truth. Amen.*