Devotionals

We are the branches

by Susan Barnes 
11/05/20
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Jesus said, “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 15:5

Jews were very familiar with vines and vineyards. A modern illustration would be to compare ourselves to a light bulb. A light bulb only produces light when it’s plugged into an energy source. Likewise, we only produce light when we are connected to God. We cannot produce fruit, or light unless we remain in him.

Our confidence has to be in the Lord if we are going to produce fruit, even when we have been trained to run a particular ministry. Training is good and gives us tools and ideas of things we could do, but if we solely rely on a program or a technique we aren’t relying on God’s Spirit. “If God isn't in it, the best humanly designed program won't work. If God is in it, almost any program will work.”

The downside of being a branch of the true vine is, “he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more” (verse 2).

The reason for pruning a vine is that left to itself, it will produce leaves and no fruit. The leaves look good and the vine appears to be healthy, but the leaves sap the vine of strength so it doesn’t produce grapes.

God is looking for fruit. Fruit that will have an eternal impact. We have the opportunity by our presence, our prayers and our finances to be involved in ministries and mission projects that are changing people’s lives. We can have an eternal impact.