The Daily – Who is your Vine Dresser?
May Christ through your faith actually dwell in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love, That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth of it; That you may really come to know practically, through experience for yourselves, the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself! Now to Him Who, is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]–To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be it). – Ephesians 3:17-21 (amplified)
Our roots SHOULD be grounded in LOVE. However, many times, we do not choose to ground ourselves in love and instead, we choose the ways, desires and things of this world. When we allow our hearts to be moved away from the Will, Love and purposes of God, we are stepping away from the security of the Vine. This world can bring us down, cause us to lose our way, and bring anger, covetousness and the like to the doorway of our hearts.
We must CHOOSE to be rooted in love. We must CHOOSE to remain IN the Vine!
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vine-dresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. – John 15:1-8 (NKJV)
You see, when we submit to the Will, Word and Authority of God, we are allowing HIM to be our vine-dresser. On the contrary, when we take the steering wheel away from the Lord and take over, we become the vine-dressers. Once we take on the role that God should have, we kill fruit, ruin our trees and become useless, fruitless, unhappy, unsatisfied and rebellious. There is NO joy in our own abilities. There is NO victory in our own abilities. ONLY through the strength, power, grace and love of Christ can we find peace, joy, victory and abundant life. Outside of the TRUE VINE is pain, sadness, anger, sin and danger.
How do we remain in the safety of the Vine?
“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. These things I command you, that you love one another. – John 15:9-17 (NKJV)
We must receive God’s love, and abide in it.
We must obey His Word.
We must love others.
We were CREATED for God and to PRODUCE fruit. If we do not produce fruit, we are not living productive and obedient lives. Our purpose goes far beyond carpooling, making dinner, soccer practice, pilates, and the mundane tasks of every day life. We are a part of an ARMY. We are soldiers for the KINGDOM. Our lives need to reflect HIS purpose…HIS WILL…HIS love and must produce healthy fruit! There are no more excuses. Seriously, we need to wake up and CHOOSE to walk in the spirit and let go of the things of this world. We need to be living testimonies before our children, friends, husbands and the world. They need to SEE us walking it out, making hard choices, denying our flesh and ABIDING in the safety of the VINE!
I ask again…
WHO is YOUR Vine Dresser??
Let’s pray;
Daddy God, thank You for Your Word. I am amazed again at the life it brings! Thank You that You have called me to greater things than the mundane things of life. Thank You that You have provided me with strength and the ability to remain in YOUR Vine. Lord, I turn over my shears to You! I want YOU to be my vine-dresser! I want YOU to guide me down the paths You chose for me in this life. Help me to see YOUR way clearly and never leave the safety of YOUR Vine! I love You! Thank you for loving me! In Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.
Homework:
I have included several Scriptures to help you see that obedient living is the ONLY path to peace, love, joy and TRUTH. Find encouragement and Truth in the Word. Make sure that you look them up and check the references. Study and find all you need in God’s Word!
- 2 John 1:4-9
- 1 Peter 1:14-16
- 1 John 3:24
- John 15 (whole chapter)
- 1 Corinthians 6:19
- Proverbs 16:7
- John 14:6
- Colossians 2:10
- Galatians 5 (whole chapter)
- 2 Corinthians 5:17
- Psalm 119 (whole chapter)
- Matthew 6:24
- Joshua 24:14
- Proverbs 10:8
- Ephesians 2:10
- Ephesians 5:8
Memorize: If you really love Me, you will obey My commands. – John 14:15 (amplified)
Copyright © Lara Velez, Moms of Faith, All Rights Reserved