Fruiting!

Fruiting!

“I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing. John 15:5‭ MSG

God establishes boundaries and identity for life. He refers to himself as the vine, and those who follow him as the branches. The postions are NOT interchangeable; no man gets to be the vine, because no man alive can sustain any other man. I cannot play God in the life of anyone, and I can only thrive when I know and live in accordance with my place in God's orderly universe.

I thrive when I remain connected. No branch survives on its own. How do I remain connected: simply by a daily walk and dependence on the vine. The vine supplies necessary nourishment, and no matter the season, the branches can always depend on the vine for all they need. Fruitfulness is assured as long as the branch is connected to the vine. The opposite too is true: no branch ever lasts long if it is on its own. I get to choose to remain connected; God does not compel obedience; but the consequences of not being connected are also eternal. And you are never actually totally disconnected; you are either pulling nourishment from the True Vine or from the devil. There is no middle ground on this one.

In today's extract lies this truth: we need each other, but our greatest need is the right foundation and connection. If I am attached to Christ, I am in the right place to grow and make impact. Others too who are connected right will supply nutrients, and I also will supply. The result is a body of Christ, fully mature and making impact on the world around it. The world is in dire need of a change; we have tried all sorts and nothing has worked; it is time to show off the fruits of our connection with Life Himself. The world is waiting for our manifestation; the proof of our relationship status is in the fruit that we show. His time of favour is here.