John 15
The branches of a grape vine entwine themselves to supports and grow away from the main stem.
Bible Passage: John 15
Perhaps, the branch would sometimes forget that it gets its sustenance through the vine. It twirls itself round the support and being so close, perhaps imagines that the support is its source of life. It goes even closer and then there is no space for the buds to form and the fruit to grow.
If only part of the branch is unfruitful, the vinedresser will prune that part away.
2 … every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
But if the whole branch is compromised, then it will be cut away.
2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away;
The entwining branch must not forget that its raison d’être (reason for existence) is to bear fruit, and not to just stretch itself further and further away to explore and to enjoy the light. And so it is also for Christians who have their new lives in Jesus: they must bear the fruits of a new life and not be choked by the cares of the old ‘life’.
Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:4)
Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. (Luke 8:14)
Life is good in the communion with the Source of life:
We will have what we truly need.
7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
We will find meaning in life through doing a little to show our love for our God.
8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
True life is true love.
9 As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.
Yet this love is not without its price.
19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
In this world, you can’t be ‘too good’. You can’t tell people that they need to return to God. You can’t not do the things your peers want you to do. You can’t if you are politically correct all the time, when you are entangled with the trends and the thoughts of the world that you cannot bear the fruits of your real life.
You can be good if you are willing to wear the shoes of the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:15, Romans 10:15). And yet, this peace is not of this world (John 14:27). It brings peace to others in their salvation, and peace to us in the knowledge that even if we suffer, it was not because of misdeeds on our part but the implacable irrational hatred of evil.
20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.
25 But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’
But we are not alone. His life flows through us and He has sent us a helper in His abiding Holy Spirit.
26 But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.
Bear fruit, my beloved brethren.
