John 15:1-17 NIV84
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He 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. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain 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.
"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. If 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. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit --- fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other. ..."
What metaphor does Jesus use to explain discipleship? Who is the vine? the gardener? the branch? What is the fruit?
Meditate, for a moment, on gardening. What does it look like for a gardener to work a vine? watching for fruit? pruning fruitful branches? cutting off diseased branches? How does this picture translate to your relationship with God?
The gardener is especially interested in tending the branches because that is where the fruit grows. A well-rooted vine supports the branches, providing whatever is needed for them to produce, but bears no fruit itself. With this picture in mind, is your understanding of your place on the vine changed?
Lord Jesus, Your work in this world comes through Your disciples. You can only be seen through the quality of their fruit. How often have I misrepresented You through my actions? How often have I misunderstood the responsibility I have as Your disciple --- a branch that bears fruit for You? Forgive me, prune me, make me fruitful for You. Today, I lay down my life for You, bear whatever fruit You want to bear through me.
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ --- to the glory and praise of God.
Philippians 1:9-11 NIV84
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