We are all familiar with vines of one sort or the other. Where I live blackberry vines are everywhere, sometimes where you don't want them to be. In some areas if you mention vines they would think immediately of grapevines. Perhaps this is the vine that prompted the teaching Jesus gave the disciples that we have recorded in John 15.
What happens to a branch that is cut off of the main vine? It withers and dies; certainly it can't produce fruit any longer. It isn't good for anything by itself and has to be tossed away or burned. Jesus liked himself to the vine and the rest of us to branches. He said just as a branch cannot bear fruit by itself, we cannot bear fruit unless we remain in him. Then he took it one step further. He said even if you bear fruit you are going to be pruned. Ouch!! That doesn't sound good. That invokes the idea of being cut on. But the purpose behind that is so you will bear even more fruit. I would rather but cut on than be cut off. Jesus makes that distinction!!
This pruning is discipline to strengthen our character and faith. It is a cutting away of unnecessary things in our life that hinder our growth and productivity. That is different for each person. For one it might be too much TV, another devoting too much time to computer games. Being a workaholic can leave little time to grow spiritually and be fruitful. Almost anything that is done to excess can be detrimental to our spiritual life.
Jesus gave us a key to staying attached to the vine. He said "Let my word remain in you." His words will remain in us if we daily partake of his word, because when we read the Word we are actually partaking of Jesus himself. John 1:1 says "the Word was with God and the Word was God." We know this is Jesus because John 1:14 says "the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us." Just as a vine provides life-giving sustenance to the branches, so the Word of God provides life-giving sustenance to us. As we read, study and meditate on the Word, the life of God flows through us giving us nourishment and causing growth.
Sometimes when we mention fruit people think immediately of winning souls or bringing others to Christ. That certainly is fruit. However in this chapter Jesus indicates that answered prayer is fruit (verse 17), Love for our brothers and sisters is fruit (verses 12, 17). Joy is also fruit (verse 11). Love and joy are two of the fruit mentioned in Gal. 5:22 along with peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Another aspect of being fruitful is developing qualities of a Christ-like character.
2 Chronicles 15;2 doesn't mention fruit or being cut off of the vine but the concept is the same. "The Lord is with you when you are with him. If you seek him he will be found by you but if you forsake him he will forsake you." The people of Judah made a covenant to seek the Lord will all their heart and soul. All who would not seek the Lord, the God of Israel, were put to death. (Cut off the vine.) Verse 1-13. 2 Chronicles 16:9 has the same thought as the vine giving us strength. "For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him."
Stay attached to the vine for apart from Him you can do nothing!!
Tomorrows Bible Reading - 2 Chronicles 16-17, Ezekiel 48, John 17-18
God is good all the time,
2 comments:
"I would rather but cut on than be cut off." - great statement. Very true, I also really like the concept that Jesus is the word so when we partake in his word we are partaking in him! Great points!
Naomi, I always appreciate your words of wisdom. Thank you for the reminder of needing to stay attached to the vine, but knowing that as we stay attached to the vine, we will be pruned.
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