Living in the Vine 4 

The branches

John 15:2; Romans 8:1-17; Colossians 2:9-10; 2 Peter 1:3-5.

A root by itself is just a root. It will never achieve the purpose for which it was created unless it sends out shoots and branches that go onto bear its fruit; the whole purpose of the plant is reproduction. Jesus infers that we, His disciples, are branches and our mandate is fruit-bearing.

If we consider the shoots or branches of any plant, it is obvious that they have completely the same DNA makeup as the root. They are seamlessly joined, one and the same, having the same specific nature and characteristics that makes each branch readily identifiable as to what it is. The root of a vine will not send out the shoots of a rose bush; it will only grow branches that belong to itself.

Jesus infers that we, His disciples, are branches and our mandate is fruit-bearing.

Shoots and branches exist solely to reproduce the life of the vine. They cannot act independently because they are totally a part of the plant and therefore completely dependent on its ability for life-giving sap to flow into and through the branches; the root provides everything needed for the branches to be healthy, grow strong and ultimately bear fruit. The branches do not have a choice in this; they are so intrinsically conjoined to the vine that they are fully yielded to the root.

I find this imagery incredibly powerful and a great personal challenge. As Jesus’ branches, we wonderfully bear everything that He is in our mortal bodies; Peter writes that we “are partakers of the divine nature”  So, through the mystery of the indwelling presence and power of the Holy Spirit, whom we received at the point of our salvation, we have been “made complete in Him” (Colossians 2:10). This means that the same vital life – the fullness of the nature, power and authority of the resurrected Christ – lives in us; He breathes His life in and through us. Inwardly and spiritually, we now live in a completely different realm: one of real potential, possibilities and power in the Kingdom.

This means that the same vital life – the fullness of the nature, power and authority of the resurrected Christ – lives in us; He breathes His life in and through us.

We really do have a completely new life in Christ: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). This means the FULLNESS of everything that Jesus represents is living in us. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is the guarantee of this wonderful inheritance! Yet, to participate in the fullness of this life there is a cost; we, like the branches, need to be fully yielded…

Additional reading: 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Ephesians 1:3-14.

Prayer time:

Read: take time today to re-read all the scriptures given. Then, using either a bible app or concordance, do your own bible search for the words ‘in Christ’ or ‘in Him.’

Write down any particular sentences that especially speak to you.

• What is Father saying to you about your identity? How does He see you? 
• Does this equate with how you see yourself? If not, then what are you going to believe – your own thoughts or who the scriptures say you are? It is a choice.

Talk to God about it all. Give some time to sitting quietly in His presence and contemplating afresh the wonder of what Jesus has done for you. 

Think: you are not saved simply to go to heaven when you die but to live an amazing fruit-bearing life in the fulness of the Holy Spirit here and now.

Part 1 of this devotional is available here, and part 2 here, with part 3 here. 


^{Image by David Kohler on unsplash.com}