[RE]FOCUS Day 32
Week 5: Revealing
Day 4: I am the True Vine
by Loren Sheppard
READ:
John 15:1-4 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me
that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes,
that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have
spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself,
unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
When I was a little girl, I had a few opportunities to visit my Great Uncle and Aunt on their farm.
Their major source of income was their vineyard. I remember listening as my Uncle would
explain to my Dad how he cared for his vineyards. So much care was given to his vines in order
to produce the quality and quantity of fruit needed to sell to the winery. Part of the care of the
vines is the pruning process. The Vine dresser, a person who prunes the vines, has to cut out
the branches that will not produce good fruit. This gives the rest of the branches an opportunity
to grow stronger and to produce the needed fruit.
Our Bible passage for today talks about Jesus as our vinedresser. We need to daily abide, be
with Jesus, through prayer, and reading the Bible. We may face hard times as Jesus “prunes
our branches” so that we can do the tasks He wants us to do. Today’s Bible passage
encourages us to be with Jesus, daily repent, and focus on the forgiveness of our sins through
the death and resurrection of Jesus so that we can bear the fruit that Jesus would want us to
bear.
PRAY:
Dear Jesus, forgive us when we do not look to You as our vine. Continue to prepare us
for Your work. In Jesus name. Amen
LIVE:
Hosea 14:8 God reveals that even our fruitfulness comes from Him. How does that
connect with what Jesus speaks in John 15?