You are the vine, I am your branches: Abide in me and i in you.

Here is a poem inspired by John 15, weaving its core themes and scripture into verse.

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The True Vine

I am the Vine, the Father’s own design, The source of life,the branches—you are Mine. Apart from Me,no fruit can you impart, No tender leaf can grow,no work of heart.

The Gardener comes with eyes of holy fire, To lift the branch that bears His desire. And every one that does not bear the fruit, He takes away,He lops it from the root.

But you, clean-pruned by every truthful word, (Though sharp the cut,the promise surely heard) Abide in Me,and let My life abide, A constant flow,a never-ebbing tide.

For as the branch cannot itself sustain, But draws its strength from sun and falling rain, So you,apart, can nothing truly do, But rooted in this Vine,your life is new.

“Abide in me, and I in you.” This is the command,the promise ever true. “As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself,” Unless it dwells upon the living shelf.

“If you abide in me, and my words in you,” Then ask,and it will be given, fresh and new. My Father is glorified when fruit appears, And you prove you are My disciple through the years.

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.” A boundless,deep, and ever-faithful true. “Now abide in my love,”this sacred space, Found in the keeping of the Father’s grace.

I’ve told you this so My own joy you’ll own, A joy made full,a seed in you now sown. This is my command:“Love each other,” then, As I have loved and called you friend.

No servant greater than his Lord above, But I have made you known the Father’s love. You did not choose,but I have chosen you, Appointed you to bear the fruit that’s true.

A fruit that lasts, whatever may assail, So that the Father grants what you entail. This is the sum:“Love one another,” thus, For in this Vine,abiding, you are us.

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Scriptural References from John 15 (ESV):

· v. 1: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.”

· v. 2: “Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”

· v. 4: “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.”

· v. 5: “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

· v. 7: “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”

· v. 8: “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”

· v. 9: “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.”

· v. 11: “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”

· v. 12: “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”

· v. 13: “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”

· v. 15: “No longer do I call you servants... but I have called you friends.”

· v. 16: “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide...”