Scuppernong vines are parasites that grow up the trunks of and cling to healthy, firmly rooted trees in the southern United States. This walnut sized, dark skinned wild grape is used to make jams and jellies, and some Southerners use the hull skins for cobbler pies. The fruit produced by these vines has served as an inexpensive treat to poor families in the South for many years. In recent years scuppernongs have become more popular and can be purchased at stores all over the South.
“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.”
JOHN 15:5 NASB
As beautiful, diverse, and tasty as the scuppernong is, it cannot survive on its own. It needs the life support of well-established trees to cling to and draw its nourishment from. Should the scuppernong vine be pulled away from its host tree, it will dry up and stop producing fruit.
Like the scuppernong, we cannot survive without total dependency on God. Without Him, we have no true life source, no lifeline, no nourishment, and we cannot produce good fruit.
We can, however, learn to cling to the Lord by surrendering ourselves to Him. We can draw nourishment through Bible study, prayer, worship, service, and heart-felt obedience. Like the scuppernong, clinging to our Source will help us grow healthy and produce much good fruit.
All we want in Christ, we shall find in
Christ. If we want little, we shall find
little. If we want much, we shall find
much; but if, in utter helplessness,
we cast our all on Christ, he will be
to us the whole treasury of God.
HENRY BENJAMIN WHIPPLE