“I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” (John 15:1-2 KJV).
The analogies of the vine and the vineyard are profound tools used by the Lord Jesus to drive in the fruitful message of grace and truth for the salvation of mankind. It is a familiar example to grasp on in an agrarian society. It is rooted in the system of seed time and harvest that God established after the flood. He declared to Noah: “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.” (Genesis 8:22 NIV).
The disciples, who were Jewish and familiar with growing and tending the vine, are expected to understand this metaphor. With the Father being the husbandman (the vine-grower), the Lord Jesus being the vine and we (who believe in Him) being the branches, the Lord Jesus is giving the message of truth that for us to bear fruits the Father holds the whole process that we know not (Mark 4:27). As we remain connected with the vine by our faith in Christ Jesus, He tends the vine, clears the dead branches and prunes the live branches-signifying that those undesirable things in our lives have to be discarded. It is all by faith in Christ Jesus, through grace. Not by our trying-hard effort, but from within. Then, we bear much fruit in the Spirit who is in us flowing through the Vine, as Apostle Paul exhorts: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23 ESV).
And I say, AMEN!
Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries
When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.
Partners For Christ Ministries, INC
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477
Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.
PFC Ministries
When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.
Partners For Christ Ministries, INC
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477
Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.
No comments:
Post a Comment