Aug 28 – The True Vine!

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.” (John 15:1)

The Lord is our Creator and the One who formed us. At times we experience His love as that of a father. At other times we receive His comfort and tender care like that of a mother. He loves us more deeply than even a devoted brother. He walks with us as the faithful Friend of our family. As our Teacher and Wonderful Counselor, He guides our lives. In this wilderness of a world, He is our Beloved and our heavenly Bridegroom – the One upon whom we can wholly depend.

When Zacchaeus climbed the sycamore tree to discover who Jesus was, the Lord revealed Himself as his Saviour (Luke 19:4, 9). He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world through His atoning sacrifice. As we draw nearer to Him, we discover Him as the Anointed One, who baptizes with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

To those who seek to know Him more intimately, He reveals Himself as the Great Physician, the One who heals every disease. If you were to ask David who the Lord is, he would reply, “The LORD is my shepherd; I am one of the sheep of His pasture.”

In today’s Scripture, however, Jesus gives us two remarkable revelations – one concerning Himself and the other concerning the Father. He declares, “I am the true vine,” and then says, “My Father is the vinedresser.”

A third truth is also revealed: believers are the branches. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit…” (John 15:5)

As the Lord establishes this beautiful relationship with us, He also reveals His expectation. He does not want us to be barren branches or vines that produce sour and worthless fruit. Rather, His desire is that we bear good fruit in abundance.

The fruit of the Spirit is that good fruit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22–23)

A branch receives all its nourishment by remaining connected to the vine. In the same way, as you remain united with Christ, His life flows into you. His character, His nature, and His gracious nature become increasingly evident in your life, and the sweetness of Christ is reflected through you.

Dear child of God, when others see the fruit of the Spirit in your life, they will experience for themselves that the Lord is good.

Verse for further meditation: “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” (John 15:8)