Today’s Reading: John 15:1-8; Psalm 1

“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. 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 15:1-4

THIS WORLD HAS LIMITED RESOURCES TO OFFER.

The summer of 2011, we were living in Texas during a severe drought. Restrictions were placed on how much water we could use to irrigate our yard or wash our car or fill our pool. Every month or so the level of water restrictions was increased until we could only water our yard every other week and it had to be before 10am and after 6pm. Everything turned brown. The ground had huge cracks in it, roads were buckling and lakes were closed to recreational activity. Soil was pulling away from the foundations of buildings, causing cracks in walls and causing doors to not close properly.

The following summer, we were living in Illinois during yet another severe drought. But this time there were no water restrictions — no signs on every corner or city officials driving around fining people for using their water at the wrong time. Trees were drying out and lawns were brown from the hot, dry summer we were experiencing, but there were no concerns that the water was going to completely run out. The grass was dry but there were no restrictions stopping us from turning on the sprinklers to water the grass and save the lawn. The source of water was readily available, all we had to do was connect our dry areas to the source.

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great joy to my Father.” – John 15:5-8

JESUS IS AN ENDLESS SOURCE.

We have friends from Ethiopia — Ermias and Mulu Mekuria. I have never met two people as devoted to their prayer life as this couple. They get up every morning at 3 a.m. and spend time worshiping and praying together for a couple of hours, then they go back to sleep. When someone asks them to pray for a situation, they follow through and daily lift that person up to the Lord in prayer. Time after time, they have laid their hands on someone and prayed for healing and God has answered their prayer. Listen carefully. God hears them and answers their prayer! Why? It’s not about WHO they are but to WHOM they are connected (the True Grapevine), and it is about where they are remaining (HOME).

“But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!” – John 15:7

Let’s not focus so much on the last half of this sentence that we miss the context provided in the first half. IF you remain in me and my words remain in you, THEN you may ask for anything you want and it will be granted. Are we experiencing God answering our prayers? If not, perhaps we should consider what it takes to be connected to the source – what it really means to REMAIN there.

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with my Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask for anything in my name, and I will do it!” – John 14:12-14

Lord, I long to remain in your presence this morning and throughout my day. I praise you for being the God who equips and sustains, who fills and restores. Thank you for this connection, for this “home” in which I find my hope and confidence. I offer up my requests to you this morning, for myself and for those around me. Thank you for hearing my prayer and for answering according to your perfect will. May I be a conduit of your love and grace in the lives of others, and may your Spirit produce fruit through me today. Amen.

“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord
and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.
They are like trees planted along a riverbank,
with roots that reach deep into the water.
Such trees are not bothered by the heat
or worried by long months of drought.
Their leaves stay green,
and they never stop producing fruit.” – Jeremiah 17:7-8

Oh, the joys of those who do not
follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners,
or join in with mockers.
But they delight in the law of the Lord,
meditating on it day and night.
They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither,
and they prosper in all they do. – Psalm 1:1-3