The Vine and Branches
Last night I visited wonderful people in Gaithersburg, Maryland. They lived out in a more rural area with lots of beautiful open fields and natural landscape. After turning onto the long driveway that lead back to the house I saw an image of God's glory. It was a beautiful tree that was covered in purple flowers. I was struck by this tree and its grandeur.
After dinner I wanted to go see the tree up close. So I walked outside into the cold air. I felt the cold wet grass brushing my toes that were inappropriately covered with sandals. But I wouldn't have had it any other way. Nature was beautiful last night- ever part of it. I was so thankful to be able to enjoy it.
The image of this tree has been burned into my mind. I have been thinking about it all morning. Maybe it is silly to meditate on a tree, but that is what I have been doing. Through these thoughts God has reminded me of John 15:5-12. I opened my bible to hear what He had to say to me. I have been very moved by His words to me this morning.
Sunday, the sermon in church was on how God speaks to us. He shared a funny story about a time when he was at a concert and the rock star pointed at him and said something to him. He shared how proud that made him feel to know that the musician would even notice him much less have something to say to him. He then went on to say how God is the same way with us. He is like the rock star and He has something to say to us and we should be as excited to be graced with His words and attention as we are to get a wave from someone this world considers important and famous.
I feel like this today. I feel priviledged that God had something to tell me, that He cared to speak to me. The interesting thing is that He is always speaking to all of us. His word is alive and true and totally relevant to us everyday. His voice can be heard through it every time we open it up and go to Him to listen. He always has something to tell us and He always cares and notices us. Sometimes the problem is that I am not listening or searching to hear His voice. Sometimes I allow other things to get in the way of hearing His voice. My own pride or selfishness or busyness or agenda clouds my mind from being able to hear Him speak.
I am thankful this morning was different. I am thankful last night as I was starring at a tree, at His creation, that I could hear His voice. All creation cries out to Him and praises Him. I heard that through the tree last night.
As I walked closer to the tree I saw that it really wasn't the tree that was so beautiful. There was an enormous vine growing on a tall pine tree. The vine was so big that it completely had consumed the tree and covered it so all you could see was the vine and no longer the tree. I stood there quietly and starred at it and the intricacies of it all.
I was caught by how massive the bottom of the vine was. It was so strong and so powerful. It was secure in the ground, firmly rooted and established. It was perfectly capable of supporting all the branches that stemmed out from it. I was struck by how beautiful the fruit on the branches of that vine was. It was filled with glory and life that stemmed only from the vine.
I then thought about some of the blossoms that had fallen off onto the ground- they were beginning to wither and die. They were not capable of sustaining life on their own- they needed something greater; they needed the vine.
The fruit the branches bore was glorious. The color was more beautiful and vibrant than any color man could create. It was a beautiful purple so bright and true against the green leaves that stood behind it. The blossoms attest to the greatness of the vine itself. The fruit cannot take credit for it and neither can the branch for all the life and nourishment comes up through the vine- it is the only way.
John 15:5-12, "Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who parts from me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you stay joined to me and my words remain in you, you may ask any request you like, and it will be granted! My true disciples produce much fruit. This brings great glory to my Father. I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey me, you remain in my love, just as I obey my father and remain in his love. I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! I command you to love each other in the same way that I love you."
There is so much to these words. They are so deep and true- they are so right where I want to be! Likewise I want to bear fruit that brings glory to God. His love gives me life and I want to remain in His love. I want to show Him I love Him by obeying Him. To obey Him I must trust Him and trust that His commands are true and worthy to be followed.
God desires me to obey Him and remain in His love so I can be filled with His joy! What hope... what a beautiful promise and gift. He wants to share His joy with me. I can partake of His joy and be filled with it. I like the image of being filled with His joy. He doesn't just say I can have a little bit of His joy. He doesn't just say that I can receive His joy. He says I can be FILLED with His joy. I like to think of that as being filled all the way up to the top leaving no room for more!
He says my joy will overflow!!! That is such a great promise- I must obey Him and remain in His love for His desire is not to put legalistic limitations on me, but instead it is to fill me with His joy till it overflows! Wow! God wants that for me and He has told me so with His very own words.
The last sentence is equally powerful. 'I command you to love each other in the same way that I love you.' The love God has shown in the words preceding this line are great, generous and unselfish. It is a perfect love. God wants us to love each other in the same way.
posted by Kellie # 2:40 PM
