John 15:1-8 (NRSV)
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Chapter 15"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. Verse 2He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. Verse 3You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Verse 4Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. Verse 5I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Verse 6Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. Verse 7If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. Verse 8My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.
Devotion
When Jesus uses the grapevine as a metaphor for understanding our relationship to Him and to God, included in the image is that bearing fruit becomes our purpose. The fruit that Jesus has produced is love for all of the branches who are grafted into him. We branches exist to reflect God’s love for the world.
I was not brought up by my parents and community to be a lover. I was raised to be able to make it on my own. Success was not measured by how much I loved others, but by how much I was able to achieve in studies, athletics and the working world. When I accepted the call to be a pastor, I heard Jesus say to Peter as if it were me, "Do you love me? Then love my brothers and sisters." If this is the call and commission of the Risen Christ to all of us, then we must stay close to Jesus and His words and actions, because it is a quite different message than the one we receive from our world.
Prayer
Craft me deep into your vine, Lord. It is your love that must flow through me so that I might let it flow through me to the world around me. Amen.