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The Great Connection
If you’ve ever been to a vineyard, you know they are not only beautiful, but also fascinating. Imagine rows and rows of grape-bearing vines, rooted on rolling hills—its produce harvested and distributed as table grapes, grape juice, wine, raisins, jellies, jams, and more.
Jesus often used real-life examples to explain spiritual truths and, in John 15, vineyards were at the center of His analogy…
“Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.”
John 15:4 NLT
In the surrounding passages, Jesus makes it clear that He, the Son, is the vine; His Father, God, is the gardener; and we, His people, are the branches—thriving or dying depending on our connection to the source.
You could also think about it this way:
Your phone won’t continue to function if it’s not charged. But when it’s plugged into a charger, which is connected to the much more powerful source of electricity, your device can continue to function as its creator intended.
In contrast, a vine (or phone) that’s cut off from its source cannot continue to make fruit (or send texts). It cannot sustain life because it’s severed from that which gives life. And the same is true for us.
If we want to live lives that point to, glorify, and magnify God—we must stay connected to Him.
How do we stay connected?
Jesus says that we remain in His love when we obey His commandments, just as He obeys His Father’s commandments and remains in His Father’s love (see John 15:9-10).
It’s not about a legalistic submission, but trusting the One who loves to give us life. He is our greatest connection.
So right now, consider how God might be calling you to draw closer to Him. What steps will you take this week in order to stay connected to Him?
Note after sharing the devotional: John 15:4 “Abide in Me, and I will abide in you.” I’ve seen this passage quite a few times, but this is the first time where this verse - this line - stood out to me. Maybe it’s because, after another wilderness journey over the last several years (after I had thought in 2019/2020 after the previous wilderness that I would never do it again! How wrong I was!) I’m back and this line is hitting me in a way that I never understood before. That’s the beauty of God’s mercy and grace. It’s another opportunity to learn and with God’s help get it right. This requires opening myself up to His transformation because there’s no way I can change under my own power. (This is where the false gospel of self-sufficiency and self-help get it so very wrong; God is God and not us, and even though we are adults and theoretically should be “grown up,” it is not we who do the maturing, it is God if we allow Him to)
If you’ve ever been to a vineyard, you know they are not only beautiful, but also fascinating. Imagine rows and rows of grape-bearing vines, rooted on rolling hills—its produce harvested and distributed as table grapes, grape juice, wine, raisins, jellies, jams, and more.
Jesus often used real-life examples to explain spiritual truths and, in John 15, vineyards were at the center of His analogy…
“Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.”
John 15:4 NLT
In the surrounding passages, Jesus makes it clear that He, the Son, is the vine; His Father, God, is the gardener; and we, His people, are the branches—thriving or dying depending on our connection to the source.
You could also think about it this way:
Your phone won’t continue to function if it’s not charged. But when it’s plugged into a charger, which is connected to the much more powerful source of electricity, your device can continue to function as its creator intended.
In contrast, a vine (or phone) that’s cut off from its source cannot continue to make fruit (or send texts). It cannot sustain life because it’s severed from that which gives life. And the same is true for us.
If we want to live lives that point to, glorify, and magnify God—we must stay connected to Him.
How do we stay connected?
Jesus says that we remain in His love when we obey His commandments, just as He obeys His Father’s commandments and remains in His Father’s love (see John 15:9-10).
It’s not about a legalistic submission, but trusting the One who loves to give us life. He is our greatest connection.
So right now, consider how God might be calling you to draw closer to Him. What steps will you take this week in order to stay connected to Him?
Note after sharing the devotional: John 15:4 “Abide in Me, and I will abide in you.” I’ve seen this passage quite a few times, but this is the first time where this verse - this line - stood out to me. Maybe it’s because, after another wilderness journey over the last several years (after I had thought in 2019/2020 after the previous wilderness that I would never do it again! How wrong I was!) I’m back and this line is hitting me in a way that I never understood before. That’s the beauty of God’s mercy and grace. It’s another opportunity to learn and with God’s help get it right. This requires opening myself up to His transformation because there’s no way I can change under my own power. (This is where the false gospel of self-sufficiency and self-help get it so very wrong; God is God and not us, and even though we are adults and theoretically should be “grown up,” it is not we who do the maturing, it is God if we allow Him to)
Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits.
(Cliffs Notes of the above: “Let us proceed on to maturity... if God permits.”)
In my previous rants against the “suck it up and grow up, you big baby” sorry excuse of a mentality (let alone culture), deep down my prayer was and has been to find the Biblical alternative (and really, it should not be an “alternative”; this should be the dominant view, especially in a country and culture that has claimed to be Christian). And we have it. Yes, God calls us to grow up and to be able to endure trials. And He will not hold the view that it’s acceptable to not try to grow up. But according to the Bible, He also doesn’t subscribe to bashing a person in their weakness.
Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. Romans 14:1-4, NKJV
The section above is titled: the Law of Liberty. I also find the closing statement to be of value:
For it is written:
“As I live, says the Lord,Every knee shall bow to Me,And every tongue shall confess to God.”
So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.
I have noticed that people who have issues with judging properly (a separate group from those who claim to have issues with judging, period), often tend to ignore Jesus’s words as recorded in the Gospels, in favor of Paul’s words. As such, to answer these things, I am choosing to provide what Jesus told Paul to write. I have found this next section from Galatians to be a perfect “Paul” confirmation of when Jesus talks about not judging on His Sermon on the Mount (particularly Matthew 7:1):
Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own load. Galatians 6:1-5, NKJV
Additionally, Biblical “growing up” tends to focus more on personal growth (especially in terms of spiritual maturity) rather than material success. There are plenty of emotionally and spiritually immature people who are millionaires (and even billionaires) who own mansions, fancy cars, and sports teams! After all, Jesus stated that it is “easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” (Matthew 19:24) But the Bible also talks about leaning on God and supporting one another through trials.
And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:3-5, NKJV
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. James 1:2-4, NKJV
God uses trials (as much as I hate them!) to sharpen us. But the devil uses temptation to try to weaken us. But nonetheless, God still uses the latter to help us grow, to realize our dependence on Him and His promise that He will make the way for escape, and that He will reward us.
Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:12-13, NKJV
The section below is titled: Loving God Under Trials.
Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. James 1:12, NKJV
My former church, the Evanston Vineyard, recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. I kind of knew about it for awhile, as one of my best friends with whom I call regularly still attends the church and works there part-time. But I figured it would be an event that would pass without my inclusion and without incident. That was until I had received an email forward of a formal invitation to an alumni gathering to take place after both services. That excited me, and it stirred me to quickly respond to that 2nd friend that I was going to try to go. (Due to my commitment at Good News, there was no way I would be able to make either of the services at the Vineyard. But the alumni gathering after the 2nd service was still very much in play.)
I then began sinning in my mind, particularly by transgressing against God’s commandment to me to “not long for the former years.” It led to some other dark and tempting thoughts, including going down a path of imagining running into a whole bunch of people in which the interactions would be less than pleasant. God bailed me out. My wife began working a 2nd job in the last week, and it was expected that she would need to work both Saturday and Sunday (she has a 9-to-5 during the week). As it turned out, they didn’t need her for Sunday. So my plan was set: go to Good News (with my wife) and then go home and spend the day with her. No Vineyard, period. And that’s what I ended up doing.
(I did end up watching both Vineyard services on YouTube on Monday and Tuesday, and I enjoyed it very much.)
I do suspect that my exile from people from my past won’t necessarily be forever. Only until I am mature enough and finally capable to be around people without being emotionally triggered let alone stirred to sin. I say that because we aren’t called to live life alone, but we are also called to be on our guard (specifically, to guard our hearts):
I do suspect that my exile from people from my past won’t necessarily be forever. Only until I am mature enough and finally capable to be around people without being emotionally triggered let alone stirred to sin. I say that because we aren’t called to live life alone, but we are also called to be on our guard (specifically, to guard our hearts):
Keep your heart with all diligence,For out of it spring the issues of life.
Once I’m able to do that, I suspect that I will be able to do more for the kingdom. But even if not, then I know that as long as I abide in Christ every day, my life here on earth will not be wasted, and my eternity will be spent with Him.
Prayer: Jesus, I want to be in Your presence at all times. Thank You for promising to remain in me as I remain in You. I want to be as close to You as possible -- to hear how Your heart beats for those who love You. As I stay connected to You, please use me for Your purposes -- to serve and love those around me each day. Amen.
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