Vine and Branches

Wanted to share a thought provoking sermon our youth pastor shared this morning. The verse was "I am the vine, you are the branches" from John 15. He started out by drawing our attention to what we think of when we think vine and branches. Many of us think of modern vineyards - posts with wires for the grape vine to cling to. But in fact, in Jesus time, that's not how it was done. Grape vines were planted next to trees and the vine wrapped around the branches.

As he continued reading the verse -

"apart from me you can bear no fruit"

The trees were not fruit bearing trees. The only fruit bearing branches were those wrapped in the grape vine.

 "He cuts off every branch that does not bear fruit.."

I imagine a grower shaping a tree to optimally support the the vine and making fruit easiest to harvest. I picture God shaping us. Cutting off parts that are inaccessible to God and to others. Allowing us to grow in the ways and places where we are wrapped in the spirit and where that presence of God in our lives produces fruit that feeds other people.

I'm kind of hoping he can eventually shape me into one fine bottle of Pinot Noir. Cheers!