I am the Vine

“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. 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. If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” (John 15:5-8)

     On the Thursday before the crucifixion, Jesus gathered His disciples in the upper room and talked to them in length about what it means to be His disciple and how He expected them to live in this world once He was gone. Chapters 15 through 17  are magnificent chapters that we need to read over and over again to learn what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. When I taught a High School course on the Life of Jesus at Faith Academy in the Philippines, one of the requirements was to memorize chapter 15, which each of the students did. There is much to learn from this whole chapter but let us just look at the verses listed above.

     

     Jesus uses the example of at grape vine that has branches growing out of it. The branches receive life and sustenance from the vine and can only do that if they are attached to the vine. If they are separated from the vine they wither and die but if they are attached they bear much fruit. In like manner those of us who have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior have been grafted onto the vine and as long as we abide in Jesus and allow Him to control and direct our lives we will bear much fruit. If we become detached we can do nothing!

      We receive our power to live for Him by staying connected to Him, if we are obedient to what we learn from His Word, the Holy Bible, and listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, and we will bear much fruit! If we do not abide in Him, we can do nothing of eternal value.  What is the desire of your heart? Do you want to bear much fruit or are you content to just sit in a pew every Sunday so people will think you are a good person? We all have the ability to be used by God to bear much fruit if we will only abide in Him and allow Him to lead and direct our daily paths.

 

      Jesus also gives these words of encouragement to His disciples: “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. These things I have spoken to you, that My Joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.” (John15:10-14)

    Do you want to have Jesus as your friend? Show Him how much you love him by obeying the things He has taught you to do: To love the Lord with all your mind, soul, and strength; Love your neighbor as yourself; Forgive those who have harmed you, as He has forgiven you; Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse; Husbands, love your wives as Christ loves the church; Wives submit to your husbands; Children obey your parents, Be Holy as God is Holy, Humble yourself before the Lord; Let nothing be done for selfish reasons; Look first to the interest of others, and many, many more.

    Do you want to abide with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords? Do you want to walk in victory and joy instead of drudgery, bitterness, disappointment, and defeat? Abide in Him. Lay down your life for Him and live for Him everyday by being obedient to what you have learned from His word. Are you in His word everyday? If not start today. Start with chapters 13 though 17 in the Book of John. You will not regret it!

  “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.” (Hebrews 1:1-2)

PRAY:

1.     Lord, please move in the hearts of those whom we have invited to Easter service to come, and open their ears so they will be attentive to what you want them to hear.

2.     Lord, help me this day to abide in you. To allow Your Spirit to fill me and control my mouth and my actions that You might be glorified.

3.     Lord, help me to listen to You as You speak to me through you Holy Scriptures, through godly men and women, and through the circumstances you allow in my life.

4.     Lord, help me today to put the needs of others before my needs. Help me meet the needs of my spouse, children, grandchildren, coworkers, friends, and strangers that you put in my path.