Branch believers think independently of the vine. Jesus said in John chapter 15, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”

Individually and corporately believers are part of the vine that is Jesus. As individuals, we make a decision to abide in Christ. This affects the whole body of believers for we are all part of the same vine. We all make up the body of Christ.

Branches that do not bear fruit the vinedresser, God the Father(John 1:2) takes them away. Scary thought!!

A branch that is producing fruit He prunes that it might bear more fruit. Ouch!!

Pruning removes things in our lives that hinder the fruit production.

Are we allowing His life to produce fruit in us? Unlike grapevines that have no mind, we have minds, a will, a power of choice.

We can be busy with what we want, with our agenda, our plans all the while ignoring the Spirit living in us, wanting to produce fruit in us. It is our choice. A choice we make every day, every hour, every minute.

A choice we make at work, at home, at the gas station, or while waiting in line at the grocery store. We choose. Do we let our natural self dominate or do we ignore our old nature, our self, and allow His life to be fruitful in us? 

How many times do we listen to what we want rather than listen to the Holy Spirit? You know who is influencing us when we choose self, don’t you? Yep, the same one we read about in Genesis chapter 3. It is the same seductive voice luring us away from God. Encouraging us to live our own lives. To live independent of God.

Our decisions not only affect our own life and sphere of influence but the whole body of Christ. Each decision, each action affects other believers who in turn affect other believers. Yes, we are all connected.

The picture of the branch and vine is used purposefully by Jesus to show us how dependent we are on God. Just as Jesus depended on His father, so we are to be dependent on His life in us.

As the branch is attached to the vine receiving all its nourishment from the vine, so we are to remain attached to Jesus. Every day. Attached.

Let’s think as part of the vine, not a separate branch.

Father God, help us to see our need to abide in Jesus, the vine that we might bear You much fruit individually as well as corporately.

John 15:1,2,4,5 I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Abide in Me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.