I am like a vine," said Jesus, "and you are like My branches. I
want you to
cling to Me in the same way that a branch clings to a vine. My
Father is like the gardener who will prune and care for the vine.
When the branches are healthy they bear good fruit. They are part
of the vine. That's how I want you to be—a part of me.
"I love you the same way My Father loves me. Stay in My love. Let
My love stay in you."
Being a Branch of the True Vine
Our life comes from Jesus himself. He is like a grapevine, and we are like branches that grow out of him. When we base our lives on him, our lives show good results like rich grapes on the vine. But those results can only grow if we stay joined to Christ.
How do we do this? By letting Jesus' teaching become part of our innermost being. We must stay close to Jesus through prayer, and we must make the Bible our primary guide in every part of our lives.
We must absorb Jesus' teaching until the Bible provides perspective on every issue we come across. God wants to give us guidance for living our lives in a way that honors and pleases him.
