Vineyards are a way of life in many countries around the world. Jesus used a vine and branch as a symbol of the intimacy in our relationship with Him (Isaiah 5:1-7, 27:2-6). Nutrients from the roots flow into each branch through the Vine.
Along
with the photosynthesis in the leaves from the sun, this sap helps the fruit to
flourish on the branches. The branch is securely attached to the Vine, an
integral part of the makeup of the Vine, and we bear fruit for God's Kingdom by
abiding in Christ, our Vine.
The
branch has no responsibility, but to allow the life of the Vine to produce
fruit through it. This connection gives us a new, Godly personality and abundant
spiritual fruit as He prunes the decaying negative characteristics from our
life, and nurtures the positive aspects, which He births in us.
He
replaces our hatred with His love, discontentment with peace, irritation with
patience, criticism with gentleness, backbiting with goodness, worry with
faith, pride with meekness, and depression with true joy as He controls and
guides us by His Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).
Believers
thrive in body, soul and spirit when we bask in the Son's Light. We also draw
nourishment from our rooted connection in Christ (John 15:4). God plants us in
the right place, at the right time, with the right people in order to impact
lives for His Kingdom.
If
a branch is torn from the Vine by the storms of life, it no longer bears fruit,
and it withers and is thrown into the fire to be burned; yet, if we weather the
storms of life by clinging to the Vine, we remain in the Vine and we bear even
more fruit (John 15:5-6).
Prayer:
Father
God, help us to enter into Your rest and to patiently hang out with the Vine,
enjoying the cooling winds of the Spirit and the warming rays of Your Son.
Encourage us to continue in Christ throughout our lifetime (Hebrews 4:10), and
to never worry about the storms of life, which assail us.
Your
Word cautions us that without this union, we will die, get pruned, discarded
and burned in the eternal fires of hell (John 3:18). Remind us that the Vine
and branch are one entity, created for the purpose of bearing fruit to sustain the
famished world dwelling all around us. Use us to bring many people into this nourishing
relationship with You.
Thought
for the Day:
To
abide in the Vine means to be so unified with the Vine that there is no separation
between the two; we flow out of the Vine, reaching up to God's life-giving Son
and basking in the refreshing later rains.
-
John 15:2; Joel 2:23
