Honey From The Rock

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Honey From The Rock
Psalm 81:16

"Sweet Stuff From God's Word"

A daily Bible study with Victor Knowles
Copyright 2007

FRESH PICKINGS

This entry was posted on 11-14-2008 and is filed under uncategorized.

The anchorman of a news show that I watch sometime says, "And now for some fresh pickings from the political grapevine." The way politics are these days I don't know if I want anything that is taken from that particular grapevine. But I do believe there are some "fresh pickings" the spiritual grapevine that we have been studying together the last 40 days or so - the True Vine (John 15:1). Sometimes when you read a familiar passage from a different translation it becomes "fresh pickings." So here, one more time, are the first eight verses of John 15, as they appear in "The Message," a contemporary rendering of the Bible.

"I am the Real Vine and my Father is the Farmer. He cuts off every branch of me that doesn't bear grapes. And every branch that is grape-bearing he prunes back so that it will bear even more. You are already pruned back by the message I have spoken.

"Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can't bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can't bear fruit unless you are joined with me.

"I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you're joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can't produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is - when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples."

The bottom line: when we abide in faithfulness, we will abound in fruitfulness. Abide in Christ!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, the One who walks through the Vineyard, thank You for this jewel on The Vine and the branches that You have included in Your Holy Word! Empower us by Your Spirit to always produce fruit for You in ever increasing abundance for Your glory and the good of all mankind. Through Christ we pray.