Be the Branch

We live in a world that values production over connection. This is obvious when we look at the economic growth of our country and the simultaneous decline of the marriage and family unit. While correlation is not causation, this connection doesn’t seem to be a coincidence. We are so obsessed with production, wealth, and success that we miss out on the connection we were made for. Our families may have become disconnected roommates, but at least we have money, a well-decorated house, and a manicured lawn. If this is the reality of many families, it’s no wonder so many teenagers leave the church. If connection with Jesus was never a priority in their home, they may be less likely to pursue a connection to the vine. It feels less productive to sit down and read the Bible than it does to do a load of laundry, but reading the Bible connects us to the one True Vine. It feels less important to pray with our children than it does to help them finish their homework, but praying helps us and our children connect to the one True Vine. In light of eternity, connection to the Vine is more productive than any of the fleeting work we pursue on this earth. The more we willingly choose connection over production, the more we will see steady fruit grow in our lives. Choosing connection is an act of trust in God. To deny ourselves production is to tell ourselves that what we accomplish is not as important as fostering connection with Jesus. When we choose connection over production, we are reminding ourselves that we aren’t as important as we think we are. Connection is an act of rest in Jesus’s finished work on the cross.  Reflection/Discussion Question: How can you start to practice connection over production in your life?

What is surprising about the John 15 passage is when Jesus says, “‘While every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful’ ” (NIV). Whether we realize it or not, we tend to have this idea that we can reach a certain level of our faith where we won’t need any kind of painful pruning. We believe that the pruning takes place in our teenage years through our 20s, but by the time we hit 30 or 40, we should be able to have a smooth and simple relationship with Jesus. But if Jesus says that even the healthy branches need to be pruned, then we can be sure that pruning lasts a lifetime on this earth. God may cut away something that is good so that something even better can grow. It may feel pointless or even counter-productive to prune away something that is good, but it gives us an opportunity to trust the work of the Gardener. We tend to want quick fruit, but this isn’t the way of the Gardener. God may prune away something that is good in our lives and leave us in a waiting period as we trust that the intended fruit will grow at just the right time. If God gave into our instant-gratification pursuits, then we would never know true faith in our Gardener. The Gardener is asking, “Will you trust me in the waiting? Will you trust me when I take away something that you called good? Will you trust me when the fruit hasn’t come yet? Will you trust me when it’s painful?” As branches awaiting the hope of the promised fruit, we can do nothing but stay connected to the Vine and wait in faith that God has never failed on a promise. Reflection/Discussion Question: What is an example of something good that God might prune in order to make room for better fruit?