“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.” (John 15:1)
When you pick an apple from a tree, is the fruit on the trunk or the branches? The branches, of course. The same with vines – the grapes are not found on the main vine, but on the branches that come from the vine. This is the word-picture that Jesus is drawing here.
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
If you pull the branch from the vine, will it continue to produce grapes? No! It will soon wither and die. The same is true for us if we don't stay secure in Jesus.
“If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.” (John 15:6)
Only those who remain secure to the vine can produce. Think about this - what would you do with a grapevine that never had grapes on it? You might tend it for a time - working hard to make sure it has every opportunity to thrive - but at some point you would realize it will never produce, and at that point it is only taking up ground and nutrients from the vines around it that do produce.
Would you keep a grapevine that didn’t produce a single grape for 5 years? For 10? At some point, it is obvious there is a problem that will not be resolved.
Our task on this earth is to stay secured to the Vine and produce fruit for the Vinedresser. How is your fruit today?
#LoveMatters