Recently we moved house. Our pets and our honey bees in their hive moved home too. Soon after our move the honey bees’ apiarist visited, bearing a tiny golden peach tree he had beautifully grated onto sturdy rootstock. I marvelled at the strength of the stock, the smooth but evident graft, and the healthy, vibrant branches swelling with new spring buds. In John 15:1-17 Jesus describes our relationship with him and our heavenly Father using a planted vine 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
How do we become connected and then remain in him? First, we must get ourselves grafted onto the rootstock of Jesus. Our attachment forms when we give up our old selves and invite Jesus into our hearts and lives. We are grafted onto the best root stock ever – Jesus Christ – that we might live, thrive and bear fruit for the Kingdom of God. Once grafted, to remain in him, we must be deeply attached to our Lord and receive nourishment and growth. To maintain a healthy grafted join, we must grow a deep knowledge about our root structure by studying God’s word, worshipping, praying, spending time with Him, and experiencing the encouragement of Christian community and fellowship. And, we must never ever let go of our grafted union with Jesus.
As our tiny peach tree grows, we will prune it. For the tree to yield healthy, hearty peaches the weak, dead and crossing over branches will be removed and shapely growth encouraged. Jesus says, “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.” John 15:1
God graciously prunes us, so that we can bear fruit - more than we could ever ask for or imagine! He removes parts that hinder growth and cuts away things that hold us back from producing spiritual fruit in order that our lives may glorify God and bless others. We must be deeply engaged with him to know these times and willing to accept his work. Being disciplined or pruned will be for our good, as we trust Him to treat and trim our lives. Looking at our tiny grafted tree, I am assured that in time, as we love and care for it, fertilise, water and prune it, the tree will grow, flourish and bear fruit, bringing joy and blessing in our home. May our lives bring the same joy and fruitfulness in our community.
