“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. (John 15:5-8, MSG)

Jesus calls himself a vine because it gives life to branches. Without the vine the branches can’t live. When the branches are alive and healthy they naturally produce fruit. Producing can’t happen without abiding in Jesus. All spiritual fruit are happening because of Jesus Christ. If we think we are the ones producing all the good deeds we do we cut ourselves off from the vine and die.

Apart from Jesus we can do nothing. That’s the cold truth. When we try to work on our own we start spreading legalism and emptiness. When we work with Jesus we share gentleness and kindness and all the good things that naturally attract people to God. I find it necessary to start my work with quieting prayer so that I would decrease and Jesus increase. That I would not be in the way of Jesus. That I would be a branch vibrantly alive and well in Jesus Christ.

Gracious God,
Save us from ourselves!
We want to abide in you!
Abide in us!
Breath life into us!

In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: How does this verse make you feel?

Here are some other posts that might interest you:
God – The Spiritual Immine System, part 1/4
The Living Stone – The Source of Life
(Re)making Jesus Christ the Center of My Life, part 1/5
God Pointers, Lamp Posts and Light Houses
Be blessed, abide in Jesus and bear much fruit!