Gods Grapes
Why did Jesus use the imagery of the vine?
I am the TRUE VINE – the Message reads, I am the REAL VINE. This metaphor Jesus uses is the seventh of the great I AM'S in John’s Gospel. Why did Jesus use the imagery of a vine? We often hear, you are what you eat, so eat well. I have spent some considerable time holding a bunch of grapes in my hand thinking how God holds me in his hand, as grapes hang in a cluster that has the s
hape of the heart, He is holding my heart.
The question that arises is what condition is my heart? Do I need heart surgery? As I surrender daily, moment by moment, to the great Physician the condition of my heart is renewed into the design that God created me to be. The vital and necessary connection which exists between Christ and me is being generated. But, my faithfulness and obedience to the TRUE VINE, the REAL VINE, produces the fruit of the vine.
All Christians need pruning; if fruitless removed, if bearing fruit pruned to become more fruitful. As I gaze upon the bunch of grapes, the fragility of life and transience of my circumstances show God’s faithfulness and His providence. Each grape looks like a blood cell. Researchers proclaim that grapes are profound heart and blood vitalising food. But their nutrients come from the roots through the branches. Therefore, it is vital to abide in the TRUE VINE, the REAL VINE.
Verse 2: He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful
Jesus tells us - I am the Vine …my Father is the gardener…you are the branches.
As I ponder upon the bunch of grapes (me) sitting in God’s hand (the gardener) my life parading out in the open is evaluated in terms of my fruits. Once again I am reminded of the significance of being in Christ, the TRUE VINE, the REAL VINE ensuring that I am pruned to make them more fruitful and not cut off. The evening of Jesus arrest I see Judas, a branch which the Father took away, and Peter, a branch that would be pruned to continually bear fruit, real fruit. When Jesus asked Peter on the beach do you love me? not once but three times, I feel He was ensuring that Peter would remain in Christ, the TRUE VINE, the REAL VINE. Jesus was also providing the needed fertiliser for the branches to produce fruit – love.
Jesus points us to the Father. I AM WHOM I AM - Abiding in Christ and through Christ we have access to the Father who in His infinite wisdom prunes us in love.
Fruitful Love
John 15: 3 (NIV) You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
John 15: 3 (The message) And every branch that is grape-bearing he prunes back so it will bear even more. You are already pruned back by the message I have spoken.
Pruning is an ongoing requirement for productivity of good fruit. Sometimes pruning is more severe, the secateurs sharply severing dead branches, leaving them bare, open and vulnerable while preparing them for growth.
(Ephesians 6:17) "The sword of the Spirit ... is the word of God."
Like Jesus washing of the disciples’ feet in John 13:10, the disciples being cleansed from sin needed only their feet cleansed so the cutting of the branches removes sin, and prepares us for growth, we are left open to the working of God’s word.
Why?
Love! His meaning of abiding in Love, open to Love, dependent on Love to show others love to Love.
Fruitful Love
Open to Love, abiding in Love
manifesting His Love in truth.
In reconciling us to Love
He invites us into his heart, His word
to shower us in purest juice
the fruit of the vine, His Love
Not blind, or selfish controlling
but bitter sweet Love of the vine.
The Viticulturalist prunes our flaws
severs our pride, our worldliness
till we reflect His Holy laws
our feet secure in readiness.
His Love sees our potentialities
nurtures, feeds our neediness
cultivating true fruitfulness,
good fruit that is food, food for our soul.
His Love is relational, freely given
pruning Love that fleetingly pains
spelling out, freely forgiven
indescribable joy becomes our gain.
Fruit exists not for itself
but glorifying its Maker
who pours pure wine of Himself
heirs with Jesus in God’s acre.
His Love brings peace dispelling gloom
His Love stronger than the shining sun
reflects at night in the blinking moon
finished, He cries, it is done.
In heaven, on earth His Love endures
I love to walk with Love, talk with Love
but have I lost His Love, ignored His Love
neglected His Word?
Bound by healing fire of His Love
Love from His word, to cherish and hold
hearing His gentle words from above
tenderly speaking His love so bold.
Love to be loved by Love
Love is everything
Love is God
He is Love.
© shirleymay 2009
 | Jehovah Rapha - My Healer Resting in your scarred hands |
God's purpose
What is God's functional purpose for my life?
Isaiah 5:1-4 I will sing for the one I love a song about his vineyard: My loved one had a vineyard on a fertile hillside…He dug it up and cleared it of stones and planted it with the choicest vines. … he looked for a crop of good grapes, but it yielded only bad fruit. .." judge between me and my vineyard. What more could have been done for my vineyard than I have done for it? When I looked for good grapes, why did it yield only bad?”
God's functional purpose for my life is to bear good, reproducable fruit that is food for others. If we bear fruit, we are of value to him.
If we do not bear fruit... “we will be trampled… a wasteland, neither pruned nor cultivated, and briers and thorns will grow.” Isaiah 5:5-6
God the Father is the gardener, who evaluates our worth, our fruitfulness.
Fruit never exists for itself. The gardener employs people to harvest at the right time, so the fruit will not rot on the vine. Fruit is designed for others. Am I living to serve myself or serve God and others?
Good fruit is food! Spiritual fruit is for other people to enjoy and grow by, blesses and nurtures others.
Good fruit is reproducible - the potential to reproduce again the same fruit as the original vine, to affect other people.
What is the key to bearing fruit that is food for others?
Good reproducible fruit depends on our RELATIONSHIP with Christ.
©Shirleymay 2009
