The Vinedresser

I spent the morning covering grape vines in my grandmother's yard. It reminded me of when I was a little girl. I remember my daddy and mama going every year to her yard to help her cover the vines so the birds would not get to the grapes. Then in July/August I remember the sweet smell of grape juice boiling on the stove soon to become grape jelly. It's been a while since I've seen grapevines. I had forgotten that it appears there is just plant after plant but in reality there is only one main branch. The grapes grow horizontally but they are all attached to one main vine.

The verses in John 15 kept coming to my mind. I started telling Chloe what the bible says about Jesus describing himself as "The True Vine" and the Father as "The Vine dresser." We then noticed one small dead branch, the grapes had withered and the leaves were brown. It made me think of how the Father prunes every branch that bears fruit so that it may bear more fruit and takes away the branches that don't bear fruit. My daddy said he must have clipped that one branch with the weedeater causing it to be separated from the main branch. The vines MUST remain on the branch to bear fruit. Funny how Jesus used the imagery of agricultural life to describe the basis of Christian living.

We MUST remain in Him to bear fruit....there's no other way....

"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit." John 15:1-2

"I am the vine, you are the branches, He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples." John 15:5-8