John 15 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
There's so much in these verses. They reveal the Father as our husbandman (gardener). He plants, cultivates, and waters us so we can grow spiritually. They also warn us that the fruitless will be cast into the fire, reminding us to live submitted to the Holy Spirit, so we can produce much good fruit. The key is: 'Abide in me, and I in you.' When we read and meditate on His words, they enter into us. The resulting fruit is how the world knows we are disciples of Christ. It's how we can recognize true followers. We're also given a powerful promise! 'ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.'
At first, I was intimidated by the idea of God purging us to bring forth more fruit. The idea of being cut back terrified and confused me. While I was tending my garden, I was moving sprouts that ran out of room in their little pots. They were losing color and shriveling up, unable to retain enough water. I ripped the roots that had wound tightly around each other so they could spread. At first, the plants looked small and wilted in the larger pots, but the very next day, they perked up and looked healthier than ever. It's so simple with plants, that of course Jesus, who longs for us to reflect his own glorious image, prunes us to perfect us. I hope you enjoy these pictures of wild sunflowers I planted!
2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
There's so much in these verses. They reveal the Father as our husbandman (gardener). He plants, cultivates, and waters us so we can grow spiritually. They also warn us that the fruitless will be cast into the fire, reminding us to live submitted to the Holy Spirit, so we can produce much good fruit. The key is: 'Abide in me, and I in you.' When we read and meditate on His words, they enter into us. The resulting fruit is how the world knows we are disciples of Christ. It's how we can recognize true followers. We're also given a powerful promise! 'ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.'
At first, I was intimidated by the idea of God purging us to bring forth more fruit. The idea of being cut back terrified and confused me. While I was tending my garden, I was moving sprouts that ran out of room in their little pots. They were losing color and shriveling up, unable to retain enough water. I ripped the roots that had wound tightly around each other so they could spread. At first, the plants looked small and wilted in the larger pots, but the very next day, they perked up and looked healthier than ever. It's so simple with plants, that of course Jesus, who longs for us to reflect his own glorious image, prunes us to perfect us. I hope you enjoy these pictures of wild sunflowers I planted!
