A Season of Harvest Day 10: Connected to the Vine

I am the true vine, and My Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch that doesn’t bear fruit, and He prunes what does bear fruit so that it will be even more fruitful. No branch can bear fruit by itself, it must remain on the vine. I am the vine and you are the branches. If you remain in Me, and I in you, you will bear much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If you are not connected to Me, it is as if you are thrown away, gathered for a fire, and burned. But if you remain in Me, and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be granted. My Father is glorified when you bear much fruit, and prove to be My disciple. Just as the Father has loved Me, so I have loved you. Now remain in My love. When you obey My command to love each other, you will be connected to My love, just as I have obeyed My Father’s command to love you and lay My life down for you. I have told you this so that you will be filled with joy and that your joy will overflow! From John 15: 1-13

These verses tell us that the Father loves the Son, born into our world. And that the Son grew up to love us and lay down His life for us. If we remain in love with Jesus, and love others as He wants, He will give us whatever we ask. He will give us the fruit of His harvest, and our lives will overflow with joy! Sounds simple? It is! And yet, sometimes we do have a hard time with the connecting part …

Let’s imagine these verses as a short video script to unfold a fuller meaning:

SCENE 1, a gardener, standing by a grapevine. Pruners hang on his belt.

Action 1, he is lovingly exploring the length of each branch and its fruit with his hands.

Action 2, one branch has no grapes, he cuts off the branch from the vine.

Action 3, one branch has grapes, he cuts off little branches in the way.

SCENE 2, a pile of dried-up branches in the dirt.

Action 1, the gardener throws a match into the pile. The branches burn.

Action 2, the pile is burned into ashes. Looking sad, he walks away.

SCENE 3, the gardener is sitting on a bench with an apprentice.

Apprentice: Why did you cut off some branches and not others?

Gardener: It will help the branches that remain to produce more grapes.

Apprentice: How does that work?

Gardener: The branches that remain get more sunlight and the vine holds up the strongest branches. The branches connected to the strong vine get a nutrient-filled sap that keeps them growing properly and resistant to disease. These branches will produce great grapes year after year, proving their worth and fulfilling their design.

Apprentice: It sounds like you really love your job!

Gardener: As much as I love the grapes, I love the vine, and I can’t help loving the branches, too! When I do the harvesting, I imagine each branch saying to me, “Each season I ask only for this: The overflowing joy of offering you this sweet and juicy fruit I am holding for my vine!”

What is God saying to you about remaining in Him?

What difference might connecting with Him make?

What one action could bind you more strongly to the vine that is Jesus?

Lord, be my Gardener. Prune me. Keep me healthy and growing for You. I want to remain in love with You and with those you place in my life. Whatever You want, I want. Amen.