|
Listen
|
Can you remember walking in the park on a beautiful summer day surrounded by gorgeous flowers, or love going to vineyards with the scenic picturesque backdrop of grapevines strung alongside the hills and mountains?
Have you ever tried to maintain a garden, or have you seen some of the care given to gardens around the world? Some botanicals need full time gardeners to maintain them properly. The ones that are cared for remain beautiful for everyone to enjoy. Conversely, we have all seen a non-flourishing garden or lawn and can imagine how it used to look.
Jesus gave us this analogy by saying, “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…”
What an important job. The job of maintaining the life of the Vine in that all branches can remain fruitful. God the Father is keeping His branches (us) alive. It made me think about the rose bushes that are pruned in the Fall, that are broken, diseased or have damaged branches. They barely look like a bush but in the spring, they produce beautiful flowers.
Jesus said, “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.” John 15:1-4 NIV In the New Living Bible clean is translated: “You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you.” John 15:3 NLT
You might be thinking, how do I remain in the Lord? What Jesus’ Told the disciples, also extends to us: “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.” John 15:9-10 NLT
Finally, we all should remember what Jesus said, “You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other.” John 15:16-17 NLT There is so much more wisdom in this chapter. But if you can meditate on Jesus’ commandment: “Love each other” you will always remain in the Vine.
In His warning to the disciples, we learn that the world will hate us because they hated Jesus. We should never use hate as a command from the Lord. We should remember what Jesus taught us about loving each other.
In his sermon “When Life Becomes Thrilling”, Rev. G. Ray Jordan wrote: *
“After Schumann (the great composer) died, it was generally recognized that no one rendered his music with such moving power as the widow of the great composer. Her secret, however, was soon reported. Before these marvelous recitals, which made her famous, she used to read over some old, faded letters – the love letters which she had received from her beloved Schumann years before”*(As documented in the sermon collection The Pulpit in the South, edited by Frank S. Mead)
Questions to Think about:
1. How much of your life is like a garden?
2. What is the state of your garden?
3. How do we stay connected in love?
Remember, that God will never command you to hate!
Music Video:
The Legendary Ingramettes – “Young Gifted and Black/Don’t Look Back”
https://youtube.com/clip/
We Love You,
Pastors Willie and Rochelle McIntosh
On Mission Every Day. Join us
- Learn the Word by reading our weekly blog.
- Write a comment, join us on social media or zoom meeting every Sunday at 2:30pm ET except the 2nd Sunday at 6:00PM (day subject to change).
- Do you need Prayer? Have questions? We can be reached at [email protected]
Was this message a blessing to you? Would you consider sharing it?
