Following the Trail of God's Promises: The 40-Day ChallengeSample

39. The True Vine

Reading these lines of John's Gospel, the images brought me back to a period of my childhood. Namely, my family owned a vineyard and often in the spring I watched my dad skillfully and expertly clean the vines, pruning the excess canes and shoots of the overgrown vines. At the time, I did not understand the purpose of that work and it was sad to see the rows of bare vines. But like any child, I trusted my dad.

And he, a good vinedresser, did it for the ultimate benefit of the crop. He knew that only those young shoots connected to the vine bear fruit because they draw everything necessary for development from it. During the following months, he toured the vineyard and occasionally repeated the same action, until autumn. And in autumn, our vineyard turned golden with large and juicy grapes. Oh, how proud I was of my dad while I was amazed by what I saw, running from picker to picker who were filling baskets with fragrant fruits. It was the successful result of love and work.

The Heavenly Father, the Vinedresser, has given us the Vine of Life: Jesus, onto which, grafted and in synergy with Him, we bring a good harvest into this world. He invites us to abide in Him. If not, all our efforts are in vain. We pray that we will be fruitful because that is how people will recognize us and see the works done in the love of Christ.