Words from the Rock
I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.
John 15:5–6 NASB
Remember the grapevine metaphor? Jesus explained the need to prune branches so they’d be strong enough to support the weight of the grapes. But there’s another reason to prune the branches. The act of cutting back a branch causes it to regenerate in a way that connects it even more tightly to the main vine or trunk of the plant. The more secure the branch is to the main trunk, the healthier it will be. The trunk literally gives life to the branch. A bad connection—due to things like lack of pruning, infestation, or even a bad storm—will weaken the branch. That’s when a farmer might step in and prune it, use something to deal with the bugs, or bind the branch more tightly to the trunk.
The farmer understands that if the branch breaks away from the trunk and dries up, it’s all over. Dead branches aren’t good for much more than firewood. However, if there’s still a little life left in the branch, the farmer can rescue it by grafting it back onto the trunk (or vine). However, the trunk must be wounded to do this so the sap will flow out and into the branch, revive it, and restore the connection—like how Jesus was wounded on the cross so his life could flow into us.
So while God has the work of being the farmer (mending, pruning, grafting), and Jesus has the work of being the main trunk (getting nutrients and water from the soil to the branches), your job (as a branch) is to hang tight to Jesus. Then you’ll grow and be healthy and even bear fruit.
My Prayer
Dear God,
Help me to remember that nothing is more important than for me to hang tight to Jesus. Thank you for all you do to keep me connected.
Amen.
Final Word
Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Romans 8:35 NASB
Stone for the Journey
Being connected to Jesus brings life.