I AM the Vine
Jesus' final I AM statement is both encouraging and frightening. It's frightening to think that we could be "cut off" from the Vine. But for those connected to the Vine, there is purpose, hope, life, joy, peace and the ability to bear fruit for Christ! Praise be to the "Vinedresser" who prunes us to bear fruit for His glory. So how does God prune us? This is my question to you. Is it through suffering? Through pain? Through His Word? Through prayer? Through persecution? What are your thoughts and how does the idea of pruning change your attitude on life?
Vicar Matthew
I don't trust in God enough to think he will provide all I need. I don't focus efforts and daily tasks and center them around kingdom furthering activities. I am often cluttering up the branches of others trying to grow with energy sucking questions and thoughts.
Of course in thinking about this its all "me" centered and it should be more about direct connections with God and others at the "open" end. (Comment this)
Where am I on the vine? Am I comfortable in my faith? Do I let others in my community know what my beliefs are, or do I just sit back and idly wait for some other Christian to take a stand or spread the word? Am I afraid of "persecution" from family and friends for standing up in my beliefs? If I don't stand up and share my biblical beliefs, am I dying to the vine?
Where do all Christians need to be pruned? Should we sit idly by while the rest of the world blasphemes our Lord? Should we take a public stand for the Lord even though it may mean "persecution" from family, friends, community, even sometimes our own churches?
As a Christian, can I be cut off from the vine for not doing anything?
Proverbs 24:11 Rescue those being led away to death,
hold back those staggering toward slaughter.
If you say, "But we knew nothing about this,"
does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
(Comment this)