I Am the True Vine

John 15:1-4 “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. You are already clean because of the wordwhich I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.”

In this passage of Scripture, Jesus knows He is about to leave this earth and be with the Father once again; He knows He only has moments left to be physically with His disciples. What He says to them in these last chapters is significant for His disciples to ensure that the work He began to do is carried on through their lives.

Jesus is the True Vine, and we are the branches. That means if we want to truly live a life that matters, a life that produces fruit that carries into eternity, and one that glorifies God, then we must abide in Him.

Every person seeks to live a life that matters and has significance, but the truth is that apart from Jesus, we can do nothing. He is the only true vine that produces true fruit. Our own self-effort, good works, and the resources of this world are “false vines” that don’t produce lasting fruit. Our own strength, ability, and wisdom are limited, and the things of this world are passing away. The only way to live a truly fruitful life is to abide in Jesus.

Jesus told us to abide in Him and His love and allow His Word to abide in us. When we abide in Him and His love, we receive the nourishment and strength to produce lasting fruit. When we allow His Word to abide in us, His Word determines the kind of fruit we produce.

As 2024 comes to a close, it is a good opportunity to evaluate where we are at in our relationship with the Lord. Are we truly abiding in Him? Do we have a living and genuine relationship with Jesus? Are we allowing the Father, the Vinedresser, to prune away our shortcomings so we can produce fruit that gives Him glory?

I believe that as a church, we are stepping into 2025 with a greater desire to abide in Jesus, the true Vine, and willing hearts to let go of what has been holding us back from producing more fruit.

I encourage you today: If you desire to bear lasting fruit, make the changes necessary to ensure that you are abiding in the True Vine and not in other false vines. Prioritize your time so that you’re receiving the nourishment and supply from Jesus. He will sustain you and strengthen you.

Remember, we love you, and we are praying for you.

Blessings,

Chloe