The Vine that Remains

I freshly came back from visiting my daughter in Florida. Her and her husband recently had their first child, a now four-month-old boy, handsome as his Papa, and with a smile as bright as his Nana. And his parents, well, he's inherited some of their wonderful traits as well. But putting the humorous aside for a moment, let me say - my hope has always been that my children would outshine my wife and myself and that their children (our grandchildren) would outshine their parents even more so.

I expect and pray for such as my grandchildren grow in the training and admonition of the Lord under their parents' wise hands. ¹

One more morning, while sitting on the back patio of the Airbnb my wife and I were staying at in Florida, I found myself surveying the dead, leafless stumps of what was once a variety of beautiful fruit trees lining the side yard of the owner's property. Recent record freezing in Florida had killed the plants, giving their owner little option but to cut them back and free them of their dead leaves. That this would engender any growth would end up being a vain hope.

Jesus, teaching on the importance of "abiding" in Him, said,

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." ²

The mangos, guava, and avocados were certainly abiding in their tree; they were connected to their source of nurishment and sustainment. But when their "vines" failed because of the cold weather, they died - along with the leaves and the trees themselves. But in the hardest of times, in the most adverse weather conditions life can bring our way, those of us abiding in Jesus will continue to bear fruit because our vine - Jesus - will never fail, will never die, and will continue to supply and nourish.

Unlike the withered fruit trees I sat pondering that warm Florida morning, Jesus, our vine, is not susceptible to frosts, freezes, fires or any other weather conditions. Storms or dire situations that may arise in our lives have no effect on His power, provision, and presence - He can be depended upon. He is worthy or our trust. He is the vine that never dies.

What does abiding in Christ look like for the child of God, for the one who has been clothed with and united to Christ? ³ ⁴ How do we continue to suck up those healthy nutrients and stay hydrated with life-giving water?

• We breathe. We read the Scriptures, breathing in his life-giving words. And filled, we breathe out in our own words through our prayers.

• We allow the Gardner to do His work. The Father prunes us and cleanses us, sanctifying us and bringing forth the peaceful fruit that yields righteousness.

• We cling to the Gospel. The word of truth, in its many layers, is food to our souls and fattening to our bones.

Consider these three promises,

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. - ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭23‬:‭6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. - ‭‭Lamentations‬ ‭3‬:‭22‬-‭23‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. - ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4‬:‭16‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Cling to them. Medidate on them. See the words in them and hear their strong and unedning heartbeat: "surely", "all", "forever", "great", "never", "every", "steadfast", "confidence". These are words of remaining, promises of certitude. They are filled with surety and solidness, not like what this world has to offer. Breathe in these promises, and all of the promises God has given you in His word. And pray them out as you sit each day, just as Mary did at her Master's feet, choosing the good part, your Lord and Savior, Jesus.

References

¹ Ephesians 6:4 - Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

² John 15:5

³ Galatians 3:26-27 - So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

⁴ Ephesians 2:13 - But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.