John 15:1-11 Abiding In the Vine

My grandmother had a vine-covered wire fence on the east side of her driveway, next to the alley.  We would go into the alley, where we had formed a "tunnel" through the vines, thinking we were unseen by the world, protected by the vines.

I always remember that when I read passages in the Bible about the vine and the branches.  No matter how we hurried in for cover, those branches held to that strong vine and rarely ever snapped off.

Of course, the Vine here is Jesus Christ, and we are the branches.  We draw life from the Vine spiritually.  Understanding that we are but branches helps us to "know our own weaknesses and confess our need for His strength," my commentary said.

"Abide" is used eleven times here, it says.  "It means to keep in fellowship with Christ so that His life can work in and through us to produce fruit.  This certainly involves the Word of God and the confession of sin so that nothing hinders our communion with Him," it continued.  I think of how our running to hide under those vines did damage the way sin does.

The vines at my grandmother's were for show only.  They didn't produce fruit like the vines in Jesus' example.  We as Christians aren't to be "just for show" though, but fruit-bearing.

As we abide, we also experience the Father's pruning, which is done to allow us to produce more fruit, which leads to us experiencing "a deepening love for Christ and for other believers ... Abiding demands worship, meditation on God's Word, prayer, sacrifice, and service."

Father, keep me close.  Help me to abide in You!

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford