Remain in Me

 

John 15:1-8

The Vine and the Branches

15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. ² He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. ³ You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. ⁴ Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

⁵ “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. ⁷ If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Again another passage rich in imagery, truth and encouragement. No matter how long we've lived, we've found that alone we can accomplish little, if anything.  It's our connection with Jesus, our life in him, the true vine and source of our strength, our life, really, that helps us live, reflect and bear witness to him. If he is not the vine of our life, and we not the branches, what good can we do? Let us renew our desire and efforts to be the branches of the Vine who is Christ Jesus. There is MUCH food and drink for us in these eight verses. May we take the time to eat and drink as much as we can today.

Bro. Rene 

Dear Jesus,  you are the vine and we the branches. May we bear the fruit that comes from the life you provide, and become providers of that fruit to others. Amen.