Having spent many years living in California’s central valley, I have seen fields of fruits and vegetables dominate the landscape. Most memorable has always been the grapevines, particularly at harvest time when the fruit, hanging from the leafy vines, are unmistakable. Such images remind me of John 15 where Jesus once again, teaches spiritual truth in a most memorable way.
Jesus tells His followers that He is the vine and that it is important that they, the branches, bear fruit. He goes on to say that only the branches that stay connected to the vine can produce fruit (verse 4). This concept of basic gardening is not new or hard to understand for even the beginning gardener. The analogy continues in verse 5 where Jesus similarly states that the key to fruitfulness for us is connection to the true vine, Jesus Himself—“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.”
As you begin a new school year, I encourage you to “Bear Fruit”. Fruitfulness this year may come in the form of pointing friends to faith, serving our church and community or the evidence of the “fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5). Yet remember that fruitfulness will not occur without a solid connection to the true vine—Jesus.
Let me offer a final observation about grapevines. I’ve noticed that some fields have older vines with newer branches sprouting out from them. Then there are other fields with older vines where you can’t tell where the main vine ends and the branch begins. Clearly those branches have been connected to that vine for a long time and have begun to even look and feel like the main vine.
So as you strive to be fruit-bearing followers of Jesus, pray that your connection to Him will grow stronger each day and that you will be more like Him in every way. Pray that your time in God’s Word will not only be more of a priority, but that you will have greater understanding as you read. And pray that the “fruit of the Spirit” will be clearly evident in your life and that others will see Christ-like character developing in you.
Jesus tells His followers that He is the vine and that it is important that they, the branches, bear fruit. He goes on to say that only the branches that stay connected to the vine can produce fruit (verse 4). This concept of basic gardening is not new or hard to understand for even the beginning gardener. The analogy continues in verse 5 where Jesus similarly states that the key to fruitfulness for us is connection to the true vine, Jesus Himself—“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.”
As you begin a new school year, I encourage you to “Bear Fruit”. Fruitfulness this year may come in the form of pointing friends to faith, serving our church and community or the evidence of the “fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5). Yet remember that fruitfulness will not occur without a solid connection to the true vine—Jesus.
Let me offer a final observation about grapevines. I’ve noticed that some fields have older vines with newer branches sprouting out from them. Then there are other fields with older vines where you can’t tell where the main vine ends and the branch begins. Clearly those branches have been connected to that vine for a long time and have begun to even look and feel like the main vine.
So as you strive to be fruit-bearing followers of Jesus, pray that your connection to Him will grow stronger each day and that you will be more like Him in every way. Pray that your time in God’s Word will not only be more of a priority, but that you will have greater understanding as you read. And pray that the “fruit of the Spirit” will be clearly evident in your life and that others will see Christ-like character developing in you.
[Remember that FREE YouthWalk Devotionals are available each month in the HS Room.]
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