Fruit of the Vine

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   I am not a wine drinker. In fact, I have never consumed a recreational alcoholic beverage of any kind in my life. However, I do know that we live in some of the best wine country in the world. If you drive up from Albany to Salem, I-5 passes through Willamette Valley Vineyards. I had the opportunity to attend an even there many years ago, and I was amazed at the work that goes into maintaining the vines.

   The image of vines is a common one throughout the Bible. The words 'vine' or 'vineyard' are used in various forms and for various purposes more than 200 times in Scripture. Perhaps one of the most familiar of all is found in John 15. In one of the 'I am' statements, Jesus says, "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart for Me you can do nothing (John 15:5)." Here, Jesus is using Himself to illustrate the futility of us trying to please God on our own. In the same way that a branch cannot bring forth grapes without being part of a grapevine, we cannot bring about anything truly pleasing to God apart from abiding in Christ. Jesus is our source of spiritual nourishment, our source of strength. He is the one who gives us life and meaning. 

   How often do you and I find ourselves trying to please God through our own efforts? We think that God's kingdom will only grow if we just work harder. We may know that the phrase "God helps those who help themselves" is not in the Bible, but we live as if it had been incorporated into John 15. Yet the Father is most pleased to work through those who dwell most deeply in the sufficient provision of the Son.

   Later on in John 15:16, Jesus says, "You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give you." Be encouraged with this: Jesus' expressed purpose is that we would bear enduring fruit. As you drive around the valley this week and you see the grapevines growing, let them prompt you to ask God to help you abide in Christ, so that He may bring about through you the enduring fruit He promises.