Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. (Jesus; John 15v’s4&7)
STAY CONNECTED - ABIDE
When Jesus walked the streets of Galilee,
he spoke in parables - stories rich with truth.
Through them, he taught Torah lessons,
principles of life; from the lips of one who
spoke like no other, they came alive.
Stories drawn from farming - sowing seeds,
burning weeds, and even the mischief
Sower was not spared.
One story, still relevant today - is his vine story.
After much cultivation, the vine-grower plants
young vines with passion and care,
tending them with dedication to thrive.
He prunes branches to bear much fruit,
cutting away those with no fruit.
In his day, juicy grapes were pressed with bare feet,
their must left to ferment in clay jars,
then poured into new wineskins.
Jesus spoke:\ \ “I am the true vine, and you are the branches.
\ A branch cut off from me, cannot bear fruit.
\ So, stay connected - abide in me - the true vine!
\ Branches that bear no fruit will be gathered and burned.”
Jesus’ words remain unchanged through the centuries -
“A branch must stay connected to bear fruit.”
Some listeners must have cringed at the words “be burned”
knowing vine and branches grow as one,
producing fruit to please the vine-grower.
Yet here lies a paradox - his listeners would have understood:
new plants can spring from cuttings - so all is not lost!
So, stay connected to Jesus the true vine.
Let your life produce fruit that pleases the
Father, the vine-grower.
Inspiration: editorial The Christian Writer, Feb/Mar 2025,\ copyright stephen c douglas, as kiwi poet, 10 March 2025