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I AM: A Seven-Day Devotional in the Book of John

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7 Days

I AM the True Vine

Day 7

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“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

“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. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

John 15:1-11

We all want to matter in life; to have significance, purpose, and meaning.

In these words, Jesus is spelling out how we can do that, and it boils down to this - apart from me you can do nothing, just like a grape branch can’t produce grapes without being attached to a vine.

So what does it actually mean to be attached to the vine?

Specifically, in these words, Jesus is referring to grapes, something that was very familiar to the people of His time. Grapes are the most widely used fruit in the Bible and for good reason. When we think about what we will produce in our lives, we can think of grapes, because grapes can serve a lot of purposes.

Grapes can be eaten fresh off the vine, pressed for grape juice, pressed and preserved for wine, or dried for raisins. Grapes live beyond their life on the vine.

No matter what season you find yourself in -

You are feeling fresh and refreshed, ready to step into whatever God has called you to.

You feel pressed like the world is coming at you from all sides.

You feel pressed and hidden away like you are going through the struggles of life alone.

You feel dried out, tired from “religion,” worn out from the constant push and pull of life.

No matter where you find yourself, God wants to do something in you and through you. Grapevines can’t just grow anywhere. It takes a master gardener to find the right place with the right water, soil, and sunlight for a grapevine to flourish.

And the same goes for you. You were planted by the Master Gardener Himself - intentionally, carefully, and with a purpose.

When we abide with him, (remain in him, doing daily life, step by step, moment by moment with him), he promises that we will bear much fruit. Our work is abiding, His work is growing. Our work is remaining in His love, His work is making us lovely. Our work is enjoying the soil, the sun, and the water; His work is to make grapes that can be used to His glory.

If we abide with Jesus, we will bear much fruit. That’s a promise. He’s the vine. Who we are stems from who He is. Stop straining and striving, and rest in what only God can give you. This is where growth happens. This is where the fruit is produced. Isn’t that what we all want? To bear fruit, good fruit.

We can examine our lives by asking ourselves - are we producing good fruit? The kind that gives life. Today, and every day moving forward, your work is to rest in His work for you. Apart from Him, you can do nothing, but in Him, anything is possible. We remain in him, and we will bear much fruit.

Look around at your relationships, your actions, and your mind. Is what is being produced on your branch good and lifegiving?

Scripture References

25When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”

26Jesus answered,

“Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.

Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”

28Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”

29Jesus answered,

“The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

30So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do?

31Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”

32Jesus said to them,

“Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven.

For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

34“Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.”

35Then Jesus declared,

“I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe.

All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.

For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.

And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.

For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

12When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said,

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

7Therefore Jesus said again,

“Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.

All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them.

I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.

They will come in and go out, and find pasture.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

6Jesus answered,

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

25Jesus said to her,

“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;

and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.

He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes

so that it will be even more fruitful.

You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.

Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

“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.

If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.

If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.

I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it.

The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—

Passion Equip

Born from 20+ years of ministry, Passion Equip exists to empower a generation to live out their eternal purpose in the midst of everyday life, keeping the name and renown of Jesus as the desire of our souls.