4/28/2025 Daily Devotion: Which branch are you?

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 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. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full." - John 15:1-11

John 15 brings us Jesus’ well known description of our relationship with God IN JESUS by using the picture of the branch & the vine.

• Jesus is the Vine. We are the branch. The branch is in complete dependence on the Vine for strength, power, sustenance and LIFE.

• The Vine grows fruit THROUGH the branch! The Vine provides the life needed to produce fruit from each branch that grows FROM the Vine.

• What a beautiful picture of our relationship with Him! When we depend on Jesus, He gives us His Strength, His Power, His Life SO THAT He can produce His Fruit THROUGH US.

Jesus describes FOUR branches … which one are you?

• Dead Branch: Branches that are not abiding IN JESUS are not connected to His Life. A branch living through its own power & resource will not produce any fruit, will wither away and will die.

• No Fruit Branch: In a vineyard, sometimes branches will end up where they don’t belong. Instead of growing healthy on an elevated trellis support system, some branches end up along the ground … stuck in the dirt & weeds, shielded from sunlight and vulnerable to disease & pests. God will lift these branches up out of the dirt & mud and restore them to the structure & support of His Purpose.

• Some Fruit Branch: Fruit producing branches tend to produce more than just fruit. They can produce other offshoots & foliage that, while making the branch itself look full and beautiful to onlookers, actually get in the way of producing more fruit. God will PRUNE these branches by lovingly cutting back the parts of the branch that focus more on the branch than producing His Fruit. This is an intimate, painful but PRODUCTIVE process that draws us into a deeper fellowship with Him.

• Much Fruit Branch: When a branch is properly positioned and pruned the Vine can produce MUCH FRUIT through it. God is Glorified and we are full of Joy!

Which branch are you right now?

• Is God calling you to actually trust in Jesus and choose to abide in Him?

• Does God need to reposition you out of the dirt, mud & pests and return you to His elevated Life?

• Have you become overrun by self-centered growth and need God to cut back parts of your life to make room for more fruit?

• Is your Joy full and is God Glorified by the overflowing of fruit from your life?