Thoughts for the Day
Wednesday, 13th May 2020: I am the true vine
Heavenly Father I am the true vine (7) Fruits of the Spirit John 15 Jesus
Reading : Verses from John, Chapter 15
'I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine-grower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch in me that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine and you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing......
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love.'
(New Revised Standard Version)
Thoughts
Who do you look like in your family? (If you don't know your birth family, perhaps you can create imaginary parents). Do you take after your father in that you are tall, but your mother who is dark haired? Whose shaped head or nose do you have, and those hands or feet, who do they come from? Can you look at other members of the family and see resemblances?
Jesus says that He is the vine and we are the branches, and unless we are rooted in Him we cannot bear fruit. He also points out that God the Father is the vine dresser and prunes these branches so that they bear much fruit. The image of the grape vine reminds us that we must bear fruit - those 'fruits' we looked at in a previous week - Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Generosity, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control. Try working on one of these today!
As branches rooted in the true vine, we must continue to become more like Jesus, after all grape vines do not grow on thistles, do they?
Prayer
Lord Jesus,
You are the true vine
and we are the branches.
Help us to grow ever more fruit,
so that as Your disciples in the world
we may work for the coming of Your Kingdom
of love and peace.
Amen