On Wings Of Eagles

free counters

Friday, January 6, 2012

He is the Vine, We are the Branch


John 15:5-6 9 (New International Version)
   5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.

How did it get there? A huge piece of tree trunk, hanging from the top branches of the Maple tree. It was dead, ripped away from the mother tree, a 10-foot gap between it and where it had once been attached. As you look at the short section of trunk wedged in the treetop, you notice its branches intermingled with the vivid greens of the living tree. They were nothing but bare, brown sticks. No leaves. No flowers. No fruit. What a stark contrast to the living branches!

How did it get there? Why didn’t it fall down? Why didn’t someone take it out of the tree? We will probably never know the answers to those questions, but one thing we DO know: the only reason that trunk is dead is that it broke away from the mother tree! Had it continued to be connected, it, too, would be sporting a thick foliage of Maple leaves! But now it can’t bear leaves, or fruit, or flowers. It is separated form its source of life!

As human beings, we, also, have a source of life. Our source is the Lord Jesus Christ. But sadly, some don’t know they have a source of life. Others know it, but they have allowed things to creep in—things that separate them from Him. For some it is problems. For others, temptations such as immorality or greed. Or it could be something as simple as the general busyness of life. But whatever the cause, the result is the same. The trunk—you—became severed from the root system—Jesus Christ—and you cannot bear fruit!

Like that dead branch, we can be separated from Jesus our entire lives and not know it. We go on, feeling tired, empty, and alone, never knowing there is a solution.

The poor bare branch on the Maple tree around the corner will, sadly, never live again. Once severed from the root system, branches die. The good news, however, is that though we’ve been severed from our “root system”—Jesus—we CAN go back! Jesus made it possible by the shedding of His Blood. All is NOT lost! All we have to do is ask Him to remove what separates us—our sin—and we can become living branches, full of peace, joy, and purpose, bearing the leaves, flowers, and fruit of an abundant life.

Do you feel empty? Is your life dull, ordinary, void? If so, why not ask Him in? He will cleanse you, heal you, and strengthen you, for there is nothing He likes better than to see you again attached to your “root system”, bearing fruit unto righteousness!

Dear Lord we thank you that we can have life through You. We are thankful that even when we are away from You we can come back. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

No comments:

Post a Comment