By, Tim Irving – Evangelism Team
“I am the vine, you are the branches,” Jesus told His disciples. He always used practical ways to convey His truths, metaphors with which they could easily relate. Not that everyone was a vintner or a farmer, but wine was a commonplace beverage and they readily understood the concept of growing grapes. Especially when He said, “He who abides in Me and I in him, bears much fruit for without Me you can do nothing.” Ever see grapes grow off a vine? Struggling with something? Maybe you’re off the Vine! You want to grow in Christ you need to stay connected, abide in Him. He wants to nourish you, help you to bear fruit. As James told us, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” Are you bearing fruit? If not why? What stumbling block stands between you and the Lord? What hinders you from being the Christian you should be? We all have our hang ups. There may be some minor (or major) things that only we think we know about, but so does God. Don’t let anything keep you from clinging tightly to the Vine, and hang ups can! We need to deal with whatever it is, be it inward or outward, that comes between us and the Lord. Ask Him for help, ask Him to clean all the rooms in your heart, confess your hang ups, give them to Him, and then give Him the glory in all things. We are part of a mighty vine. Grow in it, take nourishment in it, and then produce a bounty of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. The fruit the world desperately needs to be fed!