Read Psalm 1:3 and John 15:1-8, 16-17
“That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.” (Psalm 1:3)“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….You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.” (John 15:5, 16)
Growing up, we had a series of grapevines in our backyard as a sort or barrier in place of a fence next to our neighbor’s yard. As a kid playing in the backyard with friends, we would invariably make our way over to the grapevines to see if they were ripe and worth eating. When the fruit was not quite ripe, there were few things that would make you pucker (and maybe spit it out) more than sour grapes. But when the grape were ripe, there was nothing that could stop you in your tracks on a hot day more than pulling a delicious handful of grapes off the vine to eat.
Just like the vines were made to bear fruit, Jesus tells us that our lives were made to be fruitful for God. What is that fruit? Well, it’s the humble, selfless love Jesus both models and describes as the commandment that He leaves with the disciples (John 15:16-17). That sort of love expresses itself in practical ways the Apostle Paul describes as the fruit of the Spirit in one of his letters: “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:13-26).
Like a grapevine bears fruit because the sap of the vine is flowing into each branch and stem, so do our lives bear fruit when the life of God is flowing into each aspect of our lives. As we enter the theme of this week on the fruitful life, may God open our eyes to see ways in which we might more fully give ourselves to God’s ways that God’s fruit might come forth in and from our lives.
For reflection:
- Each Sunday we include discussion questions on the sermon insert that can be used for deeper reflection and/or small group discussions. Take time to read through those questions today. You can find a digital version online at eastbrook.org/TreeandVine.
by Pastor Matt Erickson
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