The True Vine

DAY 14          WRITTEN BY: ERICA SUMMEROUR

• READ

  John 15:1-5

  I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. Every branch in me that does not produce fruit he removes, and he prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me.

• REFLECT

  Jesus often used examples of familiar, everyday life to explain spiritual concepts to His disciples. Most of Jesus’ listeners would have been familiar with the basic practices of cultivating grape vines. In these verses Jesus compares God to a gardener who carries out His plans for the growth of a vineyard. The listeners understand that the vineyard would represent God’s kingdom.

  In order to maintain the health of the vine, the gardener removes branches that he sees are not producing fruit.

  Early in the growing season, branches that have potential to produce fruit are pruned, their excess length is snipped off so that the vine will produce even more fruit.

  Jesus explains that he is like the vine and his disciples are the branches. Through Jesus’ teachings, his disciples are pruned, sin is removed, and they are being made ready to produce even more spiritual fruit.

  Jesus reminds His disciples that a branch cannot produce fruit, or even live apart from the vine.

  Just as the vine is the source of life for the fruit, Jesus is the source of life for the believer. We are told to remain, or abide in Him in order to produce much fruit.

  When we as believers submit to God’s pruning sin from our lives, we can bear more & more spiritual fruit.

• RESPOND

  Gracious Heavenly Father, Thank you for the pruning. Thank you for removing the sin that gets in the way of my growth. Help me to always remain attached to the only true source of eternal life– Jesus, the True Vine.