Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Vines (11/21/05)
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TITLE: The Father's Vine | Previous Challenge Entry
By Mike Valles
11/28/05 -
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The Father also has a garden - eternal in His mind and the center of His thoughts. Like other great gardens, it also is well-planned and well-prepared. As the greatest of all gardeners, He also has a special Vine in it - that of His Son. Christ Himself told us, in John15:1 (KJV), that "I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman."
With Christ being the Father's choice Vine, we can be sure that only those whose life springs from Him will be permitted in that garden. It is too carefully watched over and weeded to accidentally let just anything start growing there. The all-important thing is to be sure that you are a branch on the right Vine. People are as a vine out of Egypt (Psalms 80:8; symbolic of the unsaved world). But salvation through Christ, however, brings about a new birth - and permits a "grafting" into the True Vine. This provides a most sure salvation - being made a part of the Son – being given a new birth, a new hope, and a new life - His, which now flows through us!
The Father loves His Vine and is excited about all the wonderful fruit that Christ has brought forth. Millions have been saved down through the ages, and, by grace - millions more may yet be saved (only God knows). How the Father watches in hope as the branches on this Vine grow. But something is more important than mere greenery to One Who would grow a garden - a husbandman has a right to expect fruit from the labor of his hands. While Christ is the Vine, it is the branches that must provide the fruit. In order to ensure the desired result, our Father has provided some things for us.
First, there is the Source of all our nourishment - Christ Himself is the Supply. The child of God feeds on the Word of God, of which Christ said: "the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life" (John 6:63, KJV). This rich supply is sufficient for all our needs!
A second thing, though often misunderstood, is the matter of obstacles. A healthy vine has little problem overcoming obstacles - they merely climb it, and then are over it. With the proper nourishment, obstacles are merely opportunities for Him to show His strength.
A third element pertaining to the robust production of fruit in the believer's life is the matter of pruning. Grape vines require rather severe pruning - but what a blessed result! God's pruning takes place in us in two basic forms - a taking away of things that will hinder or hurt us, and an active role in punishing unrepented of sin. Both are done with utmost love and with the intent and manner so as to produce "joy in the morning" (Psalm 30:5, KJV). Through the patient but oft repeated pruning process, we may confidently learn to say with Job: “when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold" (Job 23:10, KJV).
A final matter concerning God's provision for our more abundant fruit-bearing is the wall that He has built for us. Vines are in danger from predators that would steal their tender fruit. Solomon speaks of "the little foxes, that spoil the vines" (Song of Solomon 2:15, KJV), and, how true it is, that often it is the little things of life that steal away our joy and rob us of the power of the Spirit. The wall, for our protection, refers to two things - the Bible and the local Church. Both exist to help us, and to aid in the production of much fruit. Are we bearing the right kind of fruit, and what is it that we need to produce the much fruit that He is longing to see in us? May His Name be praised for His perfect gardening work, and to the Vine to which we belong, which enables us to bear fruit to His glory!
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