Prayer
– Lord, I trimmed our grape vines recently…and was reminded that You are the
true grapevine…I am only a branch. Fruit is forming…but is not fully grown or
ripe yet. The harvest of those grapes is still over a month or more away. Help
me to grow in the fruit of the Spirit with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. I want to be fruitful…and
useful to You—today and throughout eternity.
I
am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch
of mine that doesn't produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear
fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified
by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a
branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be
fruitful unless you remain in me. Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches.
Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from
me you can do nothing. John
15:1-5
Grape vine, branches, and grapes.
Are you producing fruit?
Meditate.
Have you eaten any fresh grapes lately?
Have you
ever watched grapes grow? Have you picked them when they were ripe—eating those
tasty grapes while they were still warm from the late summer sunshine? What
could be better?
We have
terrific neighbors who several years ago planted a couple of grape vines along
the fence that separates our yards. The grapes that grow on our side of the
fence are ours to enjoy…and we do! I love watching for the tiny blossoms that
sprout early in the spring…and the leaves that grow to monstrous sizes covering
and hiding the grapes so you have to peek around to see them. Right now, they
are all green—so they blend right in.
People in
Jesus’ time were familiar with grapes—growing them, eating them, and using them
for making wine. He told His disciples that He was the grapevine. He gave
strength to the plant—He didn’t produce the fruit—that grew on the branches. We—like
Jesus’ declaration to the Disciples—are the branches. If we’re faithful and
produce fruit—we won’t be cut off or trimmed away. My grapevines have to be trimmed
back or we just cannot mow the grass next to the fence. I only trim the vines
that are hanging down to the ground and that don’t have any grapes growing on
them. Part of the trimming process includes cutting back branches that have
tendrils hanging onto other branches. Those tendrils are just gripping the close
branches reminding me of clingy people who just don’t want to let go of others.
They’ve no real purpose of their own—but they intertwine their lives with
others. No fruit—just twisted hooks of shoots entwining around others—seeking a
purpose through the growth of those close by. Cut them off. They are of no use
to me…or Jesus. Put the water and energy into the fruit instead. That is really
the purpose in the trimming. Who wants to waste water or resources on something
that is not producing fruit? Those branches that are cut off will never produce
fruit.
Tendrils - gripping their neighboring tendrils.
Jesus
challenged those listening to Him to remain in Him. Are you listening? Have you
made a choice to do that today?
Verses
of Salvation ~ I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you
will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to
understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives
until the day of Christ's return. May you always be filled with the fruit of
your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for
this will bring much glory and praise to God. Philippians 1:9-11
© 2024 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All
rights reserved.
All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless
otherwise noted.
New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale
House Foundation.
Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream,
Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.
Books by Mickey M.
Hunacek
Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com
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