The Vine

 

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I've recently been dwelling on certain verses in the Bible from John 15.  It's talks about Jesus being the true vine and that God is our master gardener.  These are some of my favorite and most comforting verses in the Bible...

John 15

The Vine and the Branches

 ¹"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. ²He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. ³You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. ⁴Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.  ⁵"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. ⁷If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. ⁸This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

You know God has us in His hands, if we remain (other translations say "abide" which I love that word.)  If we abide in Christ that we will produce great fruit, but apart from Him we can do nothing.  This encourages me that although there are going to be times of painful pruning, it's only because later I will be more fruitful.

Father,
Thank you for the promise you've given us here! Thank you for working so diligently in our lives to produce the best fruit for your kingdom!
In Jesus' name,
Amen