The Great Connection

If you’ve ever been to a vineyard, you know they are not only beautiful, but also fascinating. Imagine rows and rows of grape-bearing vines, rooted on rolling hills—its produce harvested and distributed as table grapes, grape juice, wine, raisins, jellies, jams, and more.

Jesus often used real-life examples to explain spiritual truths and, in John 15, vineyards were at the center of His 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 ‭NLT‬‬

In the surrounding passages, Jesus makes it clear that He, the Son, is the vine; His Father, God, is the gardener; and we, His people, are the branches—thriving or dying depending on our connection to the source. 

You could also think about it this way: 

Your phone won’t continue to function if it’s not charged. But when it’s plugged into a charger, which is connected to the much more powerful source of electricity, your device can continue to function as its creator intended.

In contrast, a vine (or phone) that’s cut off from its source cannot continue to make fruit (or send texts). It cannot sustain life because it’s severed from that which gives life. And the same is true for us.

If we want to live lives that point to, glorify, and magnify God—we must stay connected to Him.

How do we stay connected? 

Jesus says that we remain in His love when we obey His commandments, just as He obeys His Father’s commandments and remains in His Father’s love (see John 15:9-10).

It’s not about a legalistic submission, but trusting the One who loves to give us life. He is our greatest connection. 

So right now, consider how God might be calling you to draw closer to Him. What steps will you take this week in order to stay connected to Him?