“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 summer after Aimee and I were married, we decided to see how green our thumbs were. We spent a little time in the flower beds. We pulled the weeds, trimmed back the hedges, and prepared the dirt for planting. One thing we wanted to try was growing our own tomatoes. Neither of us claimed to be gardeners, but it seemed like something fun to try for the first time.
We went to the store and selected a few small tomato plants. We brought them back home and planted them with great anticipation of the fruit that we would soon see. Weeks passed, and the plants grew. We watered them with great love and care. The little tomato plants were growing big and strong. There was only one problem. No tomatoes!
The summer came to an end, and fall was beginning to change the color of the trees and the grass. While I was outside working one morning, I decided that it was time for those plants to go. Bidding them goodbye and good riddance, I reached down, grabbed them by the base, and tore them from the ground. I was carrying them to the trash when I glanced down and realized that at the base of the plant was a small green tomato that had just begun to grow. How sad! Had I waited just a bit longer, we would have enjoyed at least a small fruit of our labor.
The final “I Am” statement found in the Gospel of John is based on the growth of fruit. Jesus knew that the disciples had not fully matured in the few years they were with him. Discipleship takes a lifetime of love, care, and intentional growth.
Just think about the new hobbies we often start. We begin with the end results in mind. This is a great motivator to get things started, but it does not always paint an accurate picture of the work and time needed to produce our desired outcome. Whether it is growing vegetables, learning a new skill, trying to get in better shape, starting a new project at work, or even developing a new spiritual discipline, we need to understand that the fruit we desire is rarely an instant result.
God is patient with us as we grow and develop into the people He created us to become. God’s grace and mercy are constantly at work in our lives, helping us to grow, mature, and become the creation intended from the beginning. We, too, must be patient and intentional so that our work and efforts can produce good fruit. To truly grow into the blessing God intends for us to be, we must stay connected to Jesus. Prayer, worship, and study keep us connected to the Vine. In Jesus, we receive the nourishment needed to mature fully.
I hope today you will keep up the work of growing in your faith. Remember, you are not alone. God is with you as you develop. As we begin the season of Fall, I encourage you to find a Bible study, a Wednesday Night Alive class, or a Sunday School to help you stay connected and grow in your faith. Jesus intends wonderful things for us in this life. Let us look to him so that we find the life God intends for us.
– Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
