As a young child, whose mom and dad both worked, I was often cared for by my grandparents who lived on a farm just outside the city.  Grandpa and Grandma’s farm was heaven to me.  I adored them both.  I watched Grandma make biscuits daily, skim cream off the fresh milk to make butter later, along with other normal to her things of life on a farm.  But it was Grandpa who I followed so closely it was as if we were joined at the hip. 

Everything Grandpa did fascinated me.  I loved and admire the way he would call the cows to eat—in French, the language he had as a boy.  I remember his singing while he did his work.  I also remember hugging and loving on him as often as possible which made him smile.  I remember asking incessant questions about everything as he did his farm chores before going to do his carpentry work for clients.  While he was gone, I waited on the front porch when it was close to the time of his return.  I longed to be with him.  I had questions!

So many questions…so much love—real love.

My grandparents’ love and devotion to God, believing that Jesus died and rose again to redeem them from their sins, was unwavering and evident as they lived meager but victorious lives that attracted others to Jesus.  I am grateful for the fruit bearing behaviors of this couple who pointed me to Jesus as the only way to live life in an intimately loving relationship with God—our Father in Heaven. 

Jesus explains again the Love God has for all who believe.  While possibly walking through a vineyard, fingering the vines and branches, seeing the grapes producing, Jesus tells of the Help He gives us so luscious, spiritual fruit will appear in our lives.  Jesus then teaches about the consistent nourishment we receive as we live joined and attached to Him, “The Vine,” who gives Life!  Without Him—nothing.

John 15, The Message

The Vine and the Branches

^1-3 “I am the Real Vine and my Father is the Farmer. He cuts off every branch of me that doesn’t bear grapes. And every branch that is grape-bearing he prunes back so it will bear even more. You are already pruned back by the message I have spoken.

⁴ “Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can’t bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can’t bear fruit unless you are joined with me.

^5-8 “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. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples.

^9-10 “I’ve loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my love. If you keep my commands, you’ll remain intimately at home in my love. That’s what I’ve done—kept my Father’s commands and made myself at home in his love.

^11-15 “I’ve told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I’m no longer calling you servants because servants don’t understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I’ve named you friends because I’ve let you in on everything I’ve heard from the Father.

¹⁶ “You didn’t choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won’t spoil. As fruit bearers, whatever you ask the Father in relation to me, he gives you.

¹⁷ “But remember the root command: Love one another.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

FIRST:  Love God with all our hearts, minds, and souls.

SECOND, which is attached to the FIRST:  Love one another the way I loved you.

The fruits we bear as we love God first then love others the way Jesus taught us to love are these: “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23

“Those who belong (joined and attached) to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:24-25.

Allow God to prune our branches of all that is not pleasing to Him and cause spiritual diseases and decay in our relationship with Him and others such as “…sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.”  Galatians 5:19-21 

Be still (Let go of all you think you know) and know that He is God.

Be still (Let go of all you are clinging to tight-fistedly that is not of God) and know God.

Be still. (Let go of hate and be filled with His Love)

Be. (Seek His love as the root of all you think, say, and do.)

Above all, Stay joined to the Vine, attached to His love so tightly that His love becomes our way of life and bears the fruits of His holy character growing abundantly in us.  So much love…real love…that produces a joy in all circumstances and that is eternal.

Since my grandparents have long ago passed, that desire to be with Grandpa is very similar to my longing to always be with Jesus; listening, watching, asking questions, waiting expectantly.  I think that’s how His love in us works.

Lord,

Thank you for consistently cutting away, pruning all that is not of you in me.  Cleanse my heart, renew my mind, refresh my soul, restore the joy of your work within me.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  I know you love me.  I want to love others like you love me.  Guide me in your love.

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen