I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing. John 15:5 (KJV)
Have you ever know anyone with not only a green thumb but a green touch. One of my neighbors is a creative landscape artist. Not by trade but by passion. One of the most colorful elements to her flower gardens is knock out roses. Vibrant red and pink roses encircle her home and are clustered about the yard.
While visiting her recently we took a stroll over her land. Each flower or plant has a story. Several were given to her by friends or family and many she dug up over the years and transplanted. Her favorite by far are the beautiful knock out roses.
She explained that these roses are advertised as disease resistant. However, there was one bush with damaged brown leaves, though the flowers were beautiful. As she continued to explain her nurturing process; I found my mind wandering.
It was an odd sight to behold. Beautiful flowers blooming while the plant was dying. On closer inspection the branches were dry and withering. The disease and/or death occurred at the root.
The blooms though beautiful would soon wither and fall off. This is a great object lesson to our spiritual walk. John chapter 15 is my favorite chapter in the Bible. In this text those who have received Christ as their savior and Lord are referred to as branches. The Lord is referred to as the vine.
Jesus states “I am the vine, ye are the branches”. If we will only abide in him we will bear much fruit, but apart from Jesus we can do nothing. A part of the nurturing process to the roses is to place nourishment at the root, the source of life. This is our starting point as well. If we are not in the word of God, nurturing our spirit and soul, we will be like the diseased rose.
Though we can on occasion look beautiful to the world, the inner working of the spirit is dying. This rose bush will need to be pulled out and a new one planted in its place. If this step does not occur then the disease spreads to the other plants.
Jesus states in John 15:2 that any branch that does not bear fruit he will take away! However, any branch that is bearing fruit he will prune so that it can produce more fruit.
Lord God I want my spiritual walk to produce much fruit for your kingdom. I ask you to help me to recognize areas of my life that are not abiding in you. Help me to strengthen my attachment to you the vine. In Jesus name. Amen.
Geri Hoggard
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