Eager To Be Free

“I am the Vine, you are the branches…apart from me, you can do nothing.”  John 15:5

Jesus gives an analogy of a grapevine whose branches automatically produce delicious fruit every year without fail as long as they are not severed from their source of life and nourishment — the vine.

In horticulture, it makes sense.  Whoever heard of a branch huffing and puffing to produce grapes?  Staying connected to the vine is the only thing branches have to “concentrate” on, and if that happens, fruit will routinely grow without their effort.

Jesus reveals here what our primary responsibility as believers is.  We’re not called to strive to be loving or produce self-discipline, etc.  Our task is to “work” at staying in relationship with Him, seeking Him in prayer and the Word, surrendering to His Lordship.

Our “job” is to make sure there is nothing choking off the Life of the Vine as it flows through the branches.  Fruit will be the unconscious result of His Life flowing through ours.

Unfortunately, we’d rather work at it.  Activity is visible and obvious to the human eye.  It’s easier to “feel” spiritual if we have something spiritual to “do”.

PONDER: How about me?  Do I long for more of God in my life?  Am I pursuing relationship with Him, or am I content with just doing things that make me “appear” spiritual to myself and others?

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, don’t let me settle for anything less than all You want for my life!

Tags: branches, content, John 15, spiritual, the human eye, the Word

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 6th, 2010 at 12:40 am and is filed under Thoughts to Ponder. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.