Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
November 21, 2023
John 15:1-8
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vineyard keeper. 2 He removes any of my branches that don’t produce fruit, and he trims any branch that produces fruit so that it will produce even more fruit. 3 You are already trimmed because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. A branch can’t produce fruit by itself, but must remain in the vine. Likewise, you can’t produce fruit unless you remain in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, then you will produce much fruit. Without me, you can’t do anything. 6 If you don’t remain in me, you will be like a branch that is thrown out and dries up. Those branches are gathered up, thrown into a fire, and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified when you produce much fruit and in this way prove that you are my disciples.
Good Morning. What a mighty God we serve!
Many of us can relate to this teaching because we raise plants. Whether you are talking about flowers, vegetables, or trees, we learn that we must prune and trim branches and vines to optimize the production of fruit or flowers.
As we approach winter, our plants have special needs so that they will survive the cold. We must wait for the leaves of our bulbs to glean all nourishment before we gently dig them up. Some stems should be severely pruned, while others must wait until spring, or you remove the potential flowers for next spring.
God is the vine, and we are the branches, and like our garden plants, we have different needs depending on our seasons. We need constant care to mature into a healthy plant when we are a seedling. As we grow into a healthy plant, we need occasional trimming and pruning when we stray from our vine. With nourishment and care, even the oldest plants continue to produce much fruit.
I am reminded of a visit to an old mission in California where grape vines were old and gnarly but filled with abundant fruit. I also think about those plants that look “dead,” but when they are pruned and nourished, new life begins to spring forth in the bends and crevices of the branches.
God, our vine, provides us the branches, the nourishment, and care so that we may continue to bloom and produce fruit into eternity. Hallelujah, thine the glory. Revive us again.
Creator God, Thank you for loving us. May we learn to serve You as You serve all our many needs. Thank you. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Thought for the day: Only God can make me bloom again.
God is the Master Gardener! Pastor Liz
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