John 15:1-8 (The Message)
“I am the Real Vine and my Father is the Farmer. He cuts off every branch of me that doesn’t bear grapes. And every branch that is grape-bearing he prunes back so it will bear even more. You’ve already been pruned back by the message I have spoken. Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can’t bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can’t bear fruit unless you are joined with me. I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples.”
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At Sweet Bombdiggity Farms, we pruned our grapevines heavily this year. It might seem drastic to cut back so much, but we do this to ensure a better harvest next year. This process reminds me of what Jesus says about bearing fruit as His disciples.
In John 15:4, Jesus invites us to “Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can’t bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can’t bear fruit unless you are joined with me.” This verse speaks to the heart of our faith journey—abiding in Christ.
Abiding in Christ means staying connected to Him, just like a branch remains connected to the vine. When we engage in deep communion with Christ, allowing His words to permeate our hearts and actions, we position ourselves to bear fruit. Without this connection, we are like branches that can produce nothing on their own—suckers.
In our tiny vineyard, we remove suckers—those extra shoots that drain energy but don’t produce fruit. Similarly, in our spiritual lives, distractions and sin can sap our strength and prevent us from bearing the fruit God desires. Pruning these away allows for more focus and growth in our relationship with Christ.
The promise Jesus gives is that when we remain in Him, “the harvest is sure to be abundant.” By abiding in Him, we allow His life to flow through us, producing fruit that glorifies God and blesses others.
This week, let’s reflect on our connection to Christ. Are there areas in our lives that need pruning? How can we deepen our communion with Him to ensure we are fruitful branches in His vineyard?