You are my vine, I am your branches.

 You Are My Vine, I Am Your Branches

A Reflection on John 15:5

You are my vine, I am Your branches—rooted, held, secure.

Not a lone and struggling sapling, but connected, whole, and pure.

The life that flows within me does not originate in me;

It rises from the Vine, the source of all vitality.

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)

The branch does not strive to bear fruit—it simply abides.

It does not worry or labor; it drinks from the sap that provides.

So too, my striving ceases when I rest in who You are.

My only work is staying near, my only task, to stay in Your heart.

Cut off from You, I wither—dried, brittle, good for naught.

But grafted into Your true vine, I flourish as I ought.

The seasons come and go, the pruning knife may sting,

But every cut is mercy, preparing me to bring

More fruit, more life, more glory to the One who gave me root.

So prune me, Vineyard Keeper. Let no dead branch remain.

Let every shoot that draws from You be healthy and sustain

The harvest You desire—the love, the joy, the peace,

The kindness, goodness, faithfulness that never, never cease.

This is to My Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be My disciples. (John 15:8)

You are my vine. I am Your branches.

In You, I live and grow.

Apart from You, I am nothing.

But joined to You, I overflow.

Amen.