Quit trying… just be a branch

I recently heard a teaching on John 15:5

John 15:5. I am the vine, you ARE the branches. He who abides in Me and I in him bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”

Over the years, I have heard innumerable sermons and lessons on this verse. I don’t profess to be an expert on this topic.  But I am an avid gardener and love anything that vines.  In plant observation, I have yet to see a “struggle” for a plant to become what it is supposed to be.  The tiniest of carrot seeds will become a carrot… no questions asked. Melons produce melons, tomatos produce tomatos.  I have yet to be told by a plant where I should plant it, how I should prune or that it needs less water.   Plants do not struggle to be something beyond their God given design… unlike us.  We, as God’s people are told by Jesus Himself that we ARE the branches ~ notice present tense. He is the vine.  He is the mature plant, capable of producing and replicating Himself in the branches perpetually.  His blood (the sap) sustains every aspect of growth for the branch.  There is no struggle in being an abiding branch.

As we, the branches grow, are expected to produce fruit ~ fruit to feed others, fruit of encouragement, fruit of love and kindness, fruit that reflects Christ in us.  It really feels good when you produce fruit. Yet, just like in the natural, fruiting is followed by pruning if the plant is to become stronger and produce even more and better fruit.  As it goes in the plant world, so it goes in our spiritual walk.  We must remember that WE are the branches and not the vine.  Our only job is to abide.  Jesus accomplishes His good works through us.  To know our true place of abiding in Him allows us to enter His rest where all things get accomplished.  In the abiding, you must have faith that He will care for you… all provision, all needs met.    And you must trust Almighty God, the Vinedresser.  Trust Him in times of growth (spring) fruiting (summer) pruning (autumn) and dormancy (winter).  When the Vinedresser prunes us, I believe those branch pieces become tinder for those things we need to place upon the alter through surrender.  He cuts off old wood that worked in the last season but will hold you back from the new place of growth He has designed just for you.  As the dead wood is cut away, and sometimes it is painful, we can then see issues that need to be fully surrendered in order for new growth to come forth.  This cycle will continue throughout our walk with Him until He calls us home. Until that time, welcome your seasons of life.  Each season pulls you closer and closer to His heart.  His desire for you is to be exactly who He called you to be.  Ask Holy Spirit to guide your heart into a place of closer abiding in Christ and you will see fruit!

What a harvest!

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