Imagine you’re a branch bearing a lot of grapes in a vineyard. Imagine that you can look around and talk, and you see other branches. Some have fruit, but not as much fruit as you do. You boast that you’re producing 50 grapes on your little branch. You are shocked the other branches are producing such a few number of grapes. You also cannot believe some other branches are only producing tiny grapes whereas your grapes are huge. As you contemplate the problem with all the other branches, you decide you’re going to go on a speaking tour throughout the vineyard in order to explain to the other people how to be successful in fruit-bearing. So, you break yourself off of of the vine and you travel. At first, the other branches are amazed by your fruit-bearing capabilities. They take the advice. They try harder. But after a while, your own grapes start to shrivel up and start to die. At first,you just assume that’s what happens every season, but then in the next year, you realize the grapes aren’t coming in. “What has happened?” you wonder. You keep persisting in trying to prove your great worth by reminiscing of days gone by, but your strength weakens and eventually you yourself die. What was your problem? You ignored the vine. Whether you’re producing a huge harvest or a small harvest, it comes because you’re fed by the vine. If you disconnect from that vine, you’ll not only not bear fruit, but you yourself will die.
What was your problem? Answer: you ignored the vine. Whether you’re producing a huge harvest or a small harvest, the fruit comes to the branch because the vine feeds you. If you disconnect from that vine, you’ll not only not bear fruit, but you yourself will die.
This is Jesus’ illustration in John 15:5: “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” If you live life without Jesus, you might have an appearance of fruitfulness for a time, but you’re on your way to death. But Jesus says that if you abide in him, if you stay connected and savor this connection with him, you will bear fruit – not because you’re such a great branch, but because he’s such a great vine. Ventura, let’s ensure that we’re giving honor to whom honor is due. Let’s praise the One who saved us and also works in us so that we “bear fruit” in our lives for his glory! This morning, let’s sing praises to him in confession that he has begun a good work in us and continues that work. Let’s take the eyes off of ourselves and focus on the One who is glorious and also loves us immensely. Let’s abide in him together.
What glorious hope and encouragement to us. First, let’s ensure that we’re giving honor to whom honor is due. Let’s praise the One who saved us and also works in us so that we will “bear fruit” in our lives for his glory! Second, instead of burdening ourselves by trying to prove how fruitful we are, let’s take the eyes off of ourselves and abide in the One who gives us abundant life!