the vine

Mondays are always tricky days. After enjoying a peaceful and friend-filled weekend... getting up for a run and school can feel tedious. When my alarm went off this morning all I really wanted to do was roll over and sleep for another two hours. 

And I could have.

But instead I rolled out of bed, slipped into my running clothes, tied my hair up into a ponytail and quietly snuck out the door into a dark, foggy Nanaimo morning. Barely anyone is out that early. Only the people who NEED to be. It is kind of a refreshing feeling to know that you're there because you WANT to be. 

A little 5km run, breakfast, devotions... and now its time to get ready for a 10 hour day of classes. Oh, joy! When I get home this evening I know I'll be thankful that I got up early for my run! 

Anyways... Here is today's devotions. Have a wonderful Monday! 

I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

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. 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. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other. (John15:1-17)

I’m not even sure where to begin with unpacking this one. I have so many thoughts tumbling around in my head… and I’m not sure which one to start with. First of all… I LOVE that Jesus is talking about a vine and not a just a tree. In my mind, a tree seems finite, whereas a vine… they just seem to keep going and going. And have you ever seen how ivy has the ability to attach itself to, and break through, the toughest of materials (like a brick building). It covers ground, walls, trees. It takes over. There are no limits to where it goes.

God is similar in a lot of ways. The one root gives life to so much, to so many. When we remain in him we have the ability and freedom to go to great heights and long distances. There is no end to the life that he gives.

There are three things that stand out to me in this passage:

1. Remain in him.

2. Love.

3. Bear fruit.

And all three of those things rely on the others. You can’t have any one of them in isolation. And the key to it all is maintaining closeness to Christ, being lead by the Holy Spirit, and trusting in the Father.

We have been chosen by God for the very purpose of bearing everlasting fruit for his glory. And that comes from soaking in, soaking up, the richness of life that comes from the root. Without the root – we have nothing. Don’t forget that. It is so easily done. But remain in his love, keep your heart and minds focused on what really matters and WHO really matters. My prayer is that your life would bear the kind of fruit that would attract others – that would be inviting… that they too would come to be grafted into the root.

There are no secrets that Christ keeps from us. No hidden agenda. He has been clear from the beginning. Our purpose is to bring glory to God, and to love one another. When you have questions, ask. When you are afraid, seek his comfort. When you are doubting, look to him for answers. He isn’t trying to trick you – more than anything he wants your praise and admiration… he wants to share his love, peace and life with you. He chose you.