This week in our religion class Bro. Griffin mentioned
something that I thought was interesting and decided to investigate a little
more. He mentioned that Christ taught that He was the vine and that we are all
branches and that branches that don’t bring forth fruit are cut away and
branches that bring forth fruit are also
cut (so they could bring forth good fruit). I thought it was interesting that
both types of branches were cut so I decided to read the parable on my own.
In John 15: 1-7 it says,
“I am the true vine, and
my Father is the husbandman. Every
branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth
it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word
which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine;
no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
I am the vine, ye are
the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much
fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and
men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide
in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be
done unto you”
I feel like Christ’s message is that we are wholly dependent
on him and that is pointless to try to “make it” on our own because He provides
us with life (spiritual and physical).
I have thought a little bit about how we might separate ourselves
from Him or not “abide in [Him]” in
our lives. I feel like, for me, one way I become vulnerable and detached is
when I forget to pray often and sincerely. In order to strengthen our individual
branch and our connection with the life giving vine we need to be exercising
that connection frequently and meaningfully through prayer.
I know that if we strive to build our connection with the
vine of life, we will be able to receive Christs promise, “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye
will, and it shall be done unto you.”
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