Bear good fruit

264 Christ is the vine we are the vineChrist is the vine, we are the branches! Grapes have been harvested to make wine for thousands of years. This is a laborious process, as it requires an experienced cellar master, good soil and perfect timing. The vine grower prune and clean the vines and observe the ripening of the grapes to determine the exact moment of harvest. It's hard work, but when it all comes together, it was worth the effort. Jesus knew good wine. His first miracle was turning water into the best wine ever tasted. His concern is more than that. In the Gospel of John we read how he describes his relationship with each of us: “I am the true vine and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit, he will take away; and every one that bears fruit he will cleanse so that it bears more fruit” (John 15,1-2).

Like a healthy vine, Jesus provides us with a steady flow of vitality, and his Father acts as a vineyard worker who knows when and where to remove unhealthy, dying branches so we can move more forcefully and unchecked in the right direction. Of course he does this so that we bear good fruit. - This fruit we reach through the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. It shows in: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. As with a good wine, the process of changing our lives from a broken vessel to a finished work of redemption takes a long time. This path can be associated with difficult and painful experiences. Fortunately, we have a patient, wise and loving Savior who is both a grapevine and a winemaker, and who guides the process of our redemption with grace and love.

by Joseph Tkach


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