“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
The wooden wisteria frame at the back of our yard provides the perfect arms to hold hanging baskets. “I suppose you’ve already seen what I need to confess,” my husband smiled, pointing to a fuchsia with brown, withered leaves and blooms that hung lifeless on the limp branch.
Bill had inadvertently stepped on and snapped off the strand while the baskets were down for feeding. He jammed the detached piece into the soil and hoped for the best. Initially the stem blended into the flowering masses and passed for a living, viable part of the plant. It didn’t take long though for the shriveling to begin. Only being near the source of life did not provide the nutrients necessary to flourish and bloom.
And so it is with us and Jesus. We can attend church and plant ourselves near the Source but if we aren’t directly attached to Him, we also wither. As I look at my basket, I’m reminded how many individual strands and blooms come together to make the beautiful whole. When each member of the body of Christ – the church – draws deeply from an individual connection with Him, we can come together and thrive.
Are you connected to the Vine and plugged into a body of believers?
Father, please nourish my soul that I may be a thriving member of Your body and faithfully serve You and others. Amen.
Take a Step: Ask God to show you one way you can serve someone today.
by Shelaine Strom
Used by Permission
FURTHER READING
• The Walk of Obedience – by Mary Pinckney
• Blessed Obedience – by Idelette McVicker
• God Requires Risky Obedience – by Jon Walker
