The Vine and the Branches


Quick question, what happens to a plant when one of its stems is broken off or separated from the root and plant itself? It’s an obvious answer…it consistently dies every time. This is the perfect analogy for our relationship with Christ, but why? John 15 explains it best, God says directly that,
             “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.” 
            Lets pick this verse apart branch by branch…no pun intended. God is the true vine, our life and blood and his father is the gardener, God is our living water and our Father is the one who betters our branches, pruning so to speak. Verse 2, He cuts off branches that bear no fruit. There are times in our lives when we feel God taking away things we love, things we want and objects we cherish. The infuriation of this and the acceptance takes time, we may not understand it at the time but when we look at these things we held so tightly as bad branches who bear no fruit, we can see it is for our own good. Whether it’s a bad breakup, a death or a major disappointment, these things are taken so that we might bear better fruit. When, and only when we begin to see our issues and problems this way will we see the hope that God gives us and the mercy we are gifted. Verse four is the last and final command we should read over and over again when we feel down, alone and scared. If we remain in Him, through troubles and trials He WILL remain in us. Look at the struggles and emotional conquests of everyday life as blessings in disguise, they are not to teach us a lesson nor for pure punishment. It is because our heavenly father is pruning us, shaping us so we don’t dry out and die, but to bear vast amounts of fruit and flourish.

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