Advent 2015: Jesus as Vine

“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.
John 15:5

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Phil 4:8  
What hath each passage to do with the other?

The Philippians verse, above, is one of my favorite scripture passages anywhere. I love it because I have learned that it isn’t a wag a finger in your face passage, but rather is a passage inviting us via a loving hand stretching out to us; beckoning to us to join Him. It is Jesus asking us to join Him in His grace.

Time after time we are urged by Paul to be “in Christ” and this is one of many, many such passages. The scriptures aren’t a rule book ready to punish us if we fail but is an open door showing us Christ standing outside after he has knocked. He is waiting for us to invite Him in to eat with Him and partake in His fellowship.

He is the Vine, we are the branches. He gives us our food and life-giving water to sustain us. He invites us daily to partake of Him and there is nothing and no one better.

Do we trust Him to prune us? Yes, He says, because then we will bear fruit and some of us at times will bear much fruit. If so, we in our season have more to share with our brother and sister branches that may have had a slim year. Next year it may be reversed, we are the body, He is the Vine.
Trust Him, the Vine will see to it that His branches will all be provided with much fruit.

And what is our goal of being in Him and seeking His face and the wisdom and gift of His Word?

He tells us a few verses later:
^“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”
John 15:11
~Chris Lovegren