Scripture:
John 15:1-8, 10-11 ESV
[1] “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. [2] Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. [3] Already, you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. [4] Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch can not bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. [5] I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. [6] If anyone does not abide in me, he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. [7] If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. [8] By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
[10] If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. [11] These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
Observation:
I was looking for just the right scripture this morning, and it took me a minute to decide on this. I only hope I can do it justice. Jesus always used parables to teach the crowd HE was speaking to. A paraple is kind of like a picture story. To put it in short form, HE would speak the language of the crowd. So you can almost picture a bunch of farmers standing around as Jesus begins to teach. Saying HE is the sorce of life, and HIS heavenly Father is the one who takes care of HIM. Relating that statement to a grape vine, HE starts to draw a picture by going over the actions of what it looks like to tend grapes. As you care for them, you have to remove the branches that are not doing anything. The reason why is that they will start to steal the focus of the plant. The vine will start trying to push more nutrients to the branch, which is, in a sense, dying. The other branches will then start to suffer because of it. Verse 3 is a quick look at where they are in this process. Jesus wants to make sure that those whom HE is speaking to know where they stand. They are firmly connected and producing fruit. Hearing the words that HE has spoken and following them. Now, back to the picture story of the vine. As we all know, once a branch is cut off of a vine. It does not spring to life. In fact, it begins to die. So the picture that Jesus is painting is that if the branch is going to produce fruit, it will have to stand connected to the vine. Confirming the statement HE started with in verse 5, Jesus makes sure that those who can hear HIM know that HE is the source of life and staying connected to HIM is essential without HIM. All is lost. They can’t bear fruit. But with HIM, there will be an abundance of fruit. There is a stern warning in verse 6 telling HIS listeners to stay connected to HIM because if they don’t, the pruning process is not only painful, but there is no turning back from it. The branches that get cut off and thrown into the fire will never produce fruit again. However, if they stay connected to HIM, there is nothing that the Father won’t do for them. Staying connected to Jesus means staying connected to the life source. When a brach needs nutrients, it’s the vine that gives them. The vine dresser puts them in the ground, and the vine delivers them to the branches. In the same fashion, the father will give what is needed to the branches as they stay connected to the vine. Verses 8-10 tell about how to stay connected. Following the words spoken by the life-giving source. Living a life that brings glory to the father, if we do that, the joy of Jesus will be complete.
Application:
How many times in life have you gotten so far only to get complacent. Or even just kind of lazy. If we are honest. I mean, I’m not asking because I don’t have experience in that area. It’s happened to me over and over. I started this journey 14 years ago, and along the way, there have been some times that I just didn’t think I needed to read my Bible that much or maybe I don’t have to go to church on Wednesday…I just went Sunday and my cup isn’t completely empty yet. I have to tell you that’s not the way to do it. The scripture above is not only a warning… but it’s also meant to edify you as well. You see, I want to produce fruit. I want to please my father. So, I have to be intentional about getting the nutrients I need from Jesus so that fruit can be produced. A branch on its own is just a stick. It can do absolutely nothing. For me, it is essential that I stay plugged in to the word of GOD and people who are like me who are chasing after Jesus. The further away from those things I get, the more I start to, whether and die. For me, GOD’S word is my source of life, and one way that I stay connected to jesus. It’s how I find out not only how to grow but where to go as well. I know who I am without HIM, and honestly, there is no reason to speak that over my life anymore. Because I also know who I am with HIM. When I stay connected to the life-giving source, there is nothing HE won’t do for me. My goal is to produce fruit. Apples Oranges Grapes bananas, whatever kind of fruit HE wants from me, I want to give HIM. Now, the key to finding out what fruit you are supposed to produce is staying connected. Getting in the word. Stay around people who are heading in the same direction.
Prayer:
Father, we know that staying connected and drawing from you is how anything good happens in our lives. We never want to be complacent or think we can do it on our own. It all depends on you. Any fruit we produce starts from the nutrients you provide in your word and through your son. I can honestly say that all I want is more of you. More of the life-giving sources. Staying connected to your son through the word prayer and church. Fallout cups to overflowing. Give us the essential nutrients we need to be good fruit producing plants. If there is something that needs pruning, even though this is hard to say…prun, it we love you, and we want you to be glorified by the life we live through staying connected to you. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus we pray, amen.