January 6
The True Vine
“I am the true vine.” —John 15:1
Read John 15:1-17
In the parable before us, the Lord Jesus speaks about the fruits of the Holy Spirit’s work, that the disciples must also learn to recognize in their lives. The Saviour, who is the Son of Righteousness as well as the brightly shining Morning Star, compares Himself with a vine. A vine in itself is not overly beautiful. The prophet Isaiah said it already: There is no beauty or comeliness in the Saviour that we should desire Him. But a vine is also a plant that spreads rapidly. In a similar way, the salvation which Christ brings will spread over the length and width of the earth. The fruit of the vine, the grapes, cheers humanity. Similarly, the fruit of Christ’s work of mediation cheers the soul.
This vine is better than fine gold, for He is the true vine.
You and I are also called to produce fruit in our lives. However, in our fallen nature, we produce unfruitful works that do not please God. True fruit can only be produced when we are implanted into the true vine, the Lord Jesus Christ. But before we can be grafted into the Vine, much trimming of our own vines must take place, and every part that bears no fruit before His holy countenance must be cut away. A severe pruning leaves nothing left of our life, causing much pain and sorrow. But this pruning is very necessary—otherwise, you would never be able to bear fruit.
For what reason does the Lord Jesus use His pruning knife in His peoples’ lives?
This devotional was taken from “The Time of Your Life” a daily devotional published by the Youth & Educational Committee of the FRC. To order a printed copy of this book, contact: bookorders@frcna.org.