Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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 CHRIST THE REAL VINE


John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit for without Me you can do nothing.”   

Jesus taught the people the word of God through the examples they witnessed in everyday life. In Palestine, the vineyard was grown everywhere. Also, the vine and vineyard were a part of Jewish culture. Most prophets described Israel as a vine. Isaiah mentioned, “the vineyard of the lord of hosts is the house of Israel.” Prophet Jeremiah describes Israel as the ‘choice vine.’ Prophet Hosea described Israel as a luxuriant vine”. So, the vine became the symbol of Israel. 

Vine can be grown anywhere, like on trellises, creep over the ground, or around the doors of cottages. But the soil must be cleaned, and severe pruning is necessary to bear the perfect fruit. In the first three years, the vine is not allowed to bear fruit. It is pruned twice a year severely to deliver the best fruit. It is pruned in such a way that one branch bears fruit, and one branch does not bear fruit. Once the vine becomes useless, it cannot be taken for anything other than to burn it, which is futile. 
Jesus says that He is the true vine. Only those who lie with him bear the best fruits in life. Others do not bear fruit and are useless. Followers of Jesus bear the fruits of the Holy Spirit – love, joy, peace, endurance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22,23). In order to bear fruitful life, our foundation should be based on the word of God and Christ as the center. We should pray daily, an antiseptic against the evil things of the world, and study the word of God to fight against evil desires. Others should witness our Christian life as legible and clean by bearing the fruits of the Holy Spirit. We become useless, and our life will be a disaster if we do not abide by Jesus and his word. We are useless when we do not listen to His word, do not bear the fruits of the Holy Spirit, and abandon Jesus during difficult life situations. 

Let us abide with Jesus Christ and bear the best fruit in our everyday life. Let our deeds and actions show the love of Jesus Christ. Our foundation is the word of God. Whatever the life situation becomes, our faith should be in Christ Jesus.

                                                        
                                            Rev. Sonu Skariah Varghese

                                       St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church, Houston

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