This morning I am reading Jesus’ teaching that he is the vine and we are the branches.
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 (ESV)
Whenever I think of vines, I think of two things. The first are these words spoken by Jesus. The second is a monkey swinging through the jungle on vines.
There is something that resonates in the way both the branch and the monkey relate to the vine. The branch steadfastly holds onto the source of its life come rain, snow, hail or high wind. The connection is intimate. That which is the vine runs through the branch. Without the vine, there is no fruit. But with the vine – now that’s another story! With the vine, the branch produces beautiful, succulent fruit that brings joy to all and glory to the vine.
While the branch holds steadfastly to the vine, the monkey swings through the jungle grabbing the vine only as a means to propel himself from place to place. He grabs hold of the vine momentarily to prevent a devastating fall to the floor of the jungle. As he holds onto the vine, he is lifted high. Soon he lets go and is on his way until the next time he feels himself begin to fall. Then he grabs the vine and the cycle begins again.
Far too often, especially lately, I relate to Jesus far more like the monkey than the branch in Jesus’ teaching. I have been letting the urgencies of life, mostly work, pull me away from the vine. I strive and push and do and produce, but I wonder what I am really producing. Apart from the vine, Jesus, it cannot be fruit for him and his kingdom.
Today holds the same urgencies and temptations to do things on my own apart from the vine. I pray that I will hold tight to the vine, to Jesus today and every day.
Prayer
Father God, I confess that I often respond to urgencies in a way that pushes you to the sidelines. Forgive me for this sin against you. Draw me to you today that I might grow more deeply in relationship with you and that I might bear fruit which brings you glory. In Jesus’ matchless name. Amen.
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Sharing our journeys
Do you feel more like the branch or the monkey?
What are the greatest challenges you experience in keeping your relationship with Jesus growing?
What ways have you found to keep your relationship with Jesus growing?
