Go To The Source
“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 .”
Back in 5th grade my teacher tried to teach us little cretins about all the trees in our area of New England. She had an uphill battle trying to teach us numskulls, but then she came up with an oh so nefariously brilliant idea of assigning each of us a different tree to study and then present to the class along with a sweet brand spanking new poster board to make it official. I was hoping to get the mighty Oak or the majestic Maple, but when she called my name, she assigned me the Quaking Aspen.......REALLY!!! The Quaking Aspen?.....Gasp! How unmanly… It was a tough go for me during recess with all the other guys that day. So I decided to give it my all by signing up for the Foreign Legion, but they wouldn’t take me. Defeated, it was off to the library I went. I discovered that it was a food source for beavers, deer, moose, rabbits, birds, and muskrats. Everybody needs their source of roughage. The bark has photosynthesis capabilities in the winter for survival. So even in the bitter cold adverse conditions of winter, it can continue to thrive and survive. The most interesting item was that they generally grow in clusters via the same root system but also threw off seeds to spread far and wide. I recently discovered that through the root system, each of the trees shares the same DNA. By sharing and growing in clusters they will communicate and share resources. For instance, if one is closer to a water source in a dry season, it will share with those in need.
As Jesus followers, we are rooted in Christ. We receive all our life in Him. He encourages us, instructs us, ensures our growth in faith, and then produces the fruit of righteousness in us. We are united to others not by DNA, in our case, but by the blood of Jesus through his resurrection. And we are united for all eternity due to His finished work. Our love for one another through Him demonstrates who this Jesus is to a lost and hungry world.
Are we tapping into His life-giving word daily (the root)? Are we tapping into prayer before our Almighty God and lifting up praises and petitions to His very throne room (communication)? Are we being the hands and feet of Jesus by sharing the Good News to others so that the Holy Spirit can graft them into the vine of life (bearing fruit)?
God’s amazing creation, although in a broken state due to man’s sin, points us to spiritual truths. May we be reminded today of our union with King Jesus and to one another as His children.
“I (Jesus) do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I, in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. ”
Prayer: Father God, may we tap deeply into your nourishing root of truth. May we continue to grow in oneness as Jesus followers, your children, saved by grace. May we live it out loud to a world that is perishing. May we love them as you love them and desire for them to be saved and come to the knowledge of the only truth. May we truly love one another as you have called us to love one another. May we see each other through your eyes Father God. May we thrive even in adverse conditions and continue to grow in You. May we praise you and lift your holy name up high. King Jesus our only Lord and Savior! Hallowed be Your name!
