Jn.15:4,5 – Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
The nation of Israel was considered God’s vine in the Old Testament, the only problem is that they had been separated from the life of God and became dry and withered. Christ is teaching the disciples in His last moments with them that He was the Vine and His followers are branches. What a beautiful picture of our connection to the Lord. When we are connected to Him and abide in Him His life flows into us. We become filled with the life of God. The inevitable result of abiding in Christ is bearing fruit. The life of God brings productivity not from our efforts but because of our connection to Him. Fruit is His life, not ours. Here is how Andrew Murray describes this.
“This is the lesson of absolute dependence. The vine has its stores of life and sap and strength, not for itself, but for the branches. The branches have nothing but what the vine provides and imparts. The believer is called to, and it is his highest blessedness to enter upon, a life of entire and unceasing dependence upon Christ. Day and night, every moment, Christ is to work in him all he needs…..The branch has no cure; the vine provides all; it has but to yield itself and receive. It is the sight of this truth that leads to the blessed rest of faith, the true secret of growth and strength: “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.”
This is the Lord’s description of resting in Him. Learning to be still, know He is God, and drink deeply of His life is the key to being effective in the Christian life. It is not what we do but what He does in us. He wants to pray through us, worship through us, prophesy through us, win the lost through us; this is the life of a Christian. Christ is being glorified by the fruit that results from abiding in the Vine. Abide in Him and let His word abide in you, you can then ask what you will and it will be done.
1 thought on “I AM THE VINE”
In a valley right now, but grafted in the vine. Holding on to the Promises of God. Thinking of Psalm 23.
23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.