For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land—a land with brooks, streams, and deep springs gushing out into the valleys and hills; a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills.
Deuteronomy 8:7-9
Grapes of the Vine
The vine is listed in Deuteronomy 8:8 as one of the seven species in the good land that God was giving to the nation of Israel. God`s promise was for a lush, prosperous land including the vine. When Joshua and Caleb spied the land they brought a large bunch of grapes back to show the people. This became a symbol in use today in Israel.
There are two principles to note. The first relates to the purpose of fruit-bearing. trees and shrubs, Fruit-bearing must never be a selfish activity. God did not create the apple tree to bear fruit for its own pride or pleasure. Neither was it God’s intention that it simply be admired for its crop of fruit. The primary object of fruit-bearing is that the crop may be shared. We might say that the exercise is intended to be helpful. If the apples are not picked, they will simply rot and fall to the ground, good for nothing.
They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year
of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
Jeremiah 17:8
If someone familiar with the Bible is asked to identify passages dealing with fruitfulness, several well-known texts would no doubt come to mind. There is “the fruit of the Spirit” in Galatians 5, as well as the Lord’s discourse on the vine in John 15. Then there is Psalm 1, which compares the godly man to a fruitful tree, while Colossians 1:10 refers to being fruitful in every good work. In Hebrews we read of “the peaceable fruit of righteousness” (12:11) and of “the fruit of our lips” (13:15). These are just a few of the many references to fruit in Scripture.
I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. "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. John 15:1-5
Added to these, are the references
and requirements for making wine
and sacrificial offerings
Vines do require much tending by the gardener to produce a good crop. There are wild grapes, but these too require grafting or tending to become useful.
Like the vine, we are influenced by the environment around us. The grape harvest depends on many elements in the vineyard to thrive: sunshine, rain, good soil and drainage. So some circumstances and people contribute more to our spiritual growth than others. It’s important to be careful where we plant ourselves and where we take root. It’s so much easier to grow to spiritual maturity and bear much fruit if we’re planted where the conditions and nutrients are ideal.
We all need support. Grapevines are healthier when they’re supported by a trellis to let in light and air. When Christians falter and fall, it is often the effort of a fellow pilgrim who lends a helping hand to lift them up until they’re strong enough to stand on their own. This support network is often the most important thing a church can offer its members and its community, and joining with others to help those less fortunate is critical in obeying the Great Commission.
Weakness spreads. When one part of the vine is unhealthy, the rest of the vine and harvest can suffer. It’s why we must support and love each other so we stay strong in the body of Christ, and deal with disease.
Grapevines are severely pruned each year to grow stronger. God’s pruning in our lives can be painful, but it allows God to get closer to the essence of who we really are and to make space for Him in our lives. It don’t mean we are being punished but more like a "tidying up`. The process is more like deadheading, clearing, or decluttering, getting rid of what’s unnecessary so our available energy and resources are focused on what’s really important. Unlike grapevines, we can actually do some effective self-pruning!
There is a life cycle to growth that we can learn from. In John 15 we are called to ABIDE in the vine, In these next sections we will consider what it means to abide throughout the seasons.
Jesus calls us to "Remain in Him" John 15:4
The branches need life blood to live and this can only be received by the branch being grafted into the Vine, the living stem, and the growth process.
Adore His majesty in prayer and worship.
Remind yourself whom you are entwined with, and give thanks.
Challenge
What does it mean for you to "Abide in Christ"?
What makes you firmly rooted?
Part of the growth process of a plant is to bring about flowers for pollination. When we eat grapes, or drink the fruit of the vine, I doubt that many think about the flowers that are formed to attract the insects as a step on the way. Similarly, the flowering vine does not look upon its beauty and choose to stay in that state without producing the longed for fruit.
Challenge
Is their growth or contentment in
our Christian lives? Ask God
whether there is more to attain.
Bless Him as you serve using the natural and spiritual Gifts He has given you
The vine as it produces leaves has tendrils to help it grasp and remain steadfast, but they are easily dislodged so the vine dresser assists by tying the vine to the branches and directing where it can grow. The cultivation of grapes involves extensive vine training and pruning, and in no other fruit crops are these practices so important.
Challenge
From where do we get our guide to life?
How well do we accept instruction?
Incline your heart toward His Word.
If you keep my commands, you will remain
in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commands and remain in his love.
John 15:10
Knowing what is true is so important to
living a life well lived, but understanding
and interpreting it is also vital.
Contemporary first century writers like Josephus and Tacitus wrote extensively on
the history and descriptions of what they observed. Their writings include descriptions of the magnificent Jerusalem Temple. One of the ornamental features described, probably at the entrance, were golden vines entwined around the pillars. Herod`s Temple had much gold!
Josephus records that its beauty was
such that it was known as a marvel of size and artistry with what costliness
of material it had been constructed
to all who saw.
Jewish writings describe:
“A golden vine stood over the entrance to the sanctuary, trained over posts; and whosoever gave a leaf, or a berry, or a cluster as a freewill-offering, he brought it and the priests hung it thereon.”
When Jesus depicted Himself as the True Vine, He contrasted Himself with this artificial vine, suggesting that if the disciples would offer themselves to Him to the degree that people offered their offerings to this golden symbol, the result would be abundant spiritual fruit.
We are not only to be students of Christ, but to become like Christ. Seem impossible? - But we have the Holy Spirit to help us.
But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit,
and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with
ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:16-18
When we seek and fix our hearts on God`s Word our thinking becomes centred on Him. Our inner peace, joy, and confidence are no longer at the mercy of our turbulent surroundings , but the unchangeable truth of our saviour, Jesus.
May we always seek the Lord Himself rather than activities that might make us feel good but do not help us walk with God.
Dwell deeply in His love
`Dwelling` speaks of home. A place of shelter and security. A place of refuge and rest. Those we love are welcomed there. It`s a place of memories and thought of with affection. Home is a place we return to daily. It`s a place of love and presence where we can experience joy and peace. Jesus emphasises that we "abide" / "dwell" with Him.
Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come
to them and make our home with them.
John 14:23
Like visiting friends? In our sorry, sinful state, Jesus came amongst us "dwelled amongst us" teaching, healing and serving, and following his death and return to the Father provided the Holy Spirit to help us. We also read in
Scripture that He will return again to us, and take us to
live with Him. This is foreshadowed in one of the Biblical Feasts "Tabernacles" which besides being a remembrance
of the past wilderness wanderings also looks forward to
the messianic era and the time when we will "abide" continuously with Him.
Exalt Him with joy.
I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
John 15:11
As the creator of joy, a s well as its source, God has wrapped its presence around the presence of Jesus. The Scriptures exist to point us to the joy that are to be found in glorifying our Creator as Redeemer and King. When we a re abiding in Christ, we have the joy of God Himself.
Happiness is fleeting, but godly joy is everlasting. It is in constant supply for the believer, who even when they fall into temptation, or rocked by adversity can abide in joy by confidence in Jesus . Joy and hope in one' s salvation walk hand in hand.
You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
Psalm 16:11
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he
it is that bears much fruit, for apart
from Me you can do nothing.
John 15:5
Grow your fruit: Matthew 6:5-15 1 John 5:14-15 Mark 11:20-25 Romans 8:26-2
