Repent and Bear Fruit

Toward a New Creation
Life on God's Terms

God Prunes and Grafts

John 15:1-8  The Message

The Vine and the Branches

15 ^1-3 “I am the Real Vine and my Father is the Farmer. He cuts off every branch of me that doesn’t bear grapes. And every branch that is grape-bearing he prunes back so it will bear even more. You are already pruned back by the message I have spoken.

⁴ “Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can’t bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can’t bear fruit unless you are joined with me.
^5-8 “I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples.

For Reflection

Confess the things that separate you from God and embrace the Holy Spirit, Jesus, who lives within you.  Make yourself at home in Christ.  Listen and you will become one with Christ. and you will know God.

Pray

so that you may mature as disciples.  Pray softly and listen for the God whispers.  Pray and let those prayers displace all other thoughts and deeds.  Pray and bear fruit.