John 15:1-5 (ESV)
¹  “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.

It is very important to remember that we are branches in Christ, the true Vine.  It reminds us of some significant aspects of our Christianity.

• Without Christ, We Can Do Nothing

When a branch is severed from the vine, it soon withers and dies, and such is the case with us spiritually as well. You can read your Bible two hours a day and fast three days a week.  It does not matter if you are not connected to the Vine.  If you are a good husband or wife, a fine father or mother, or whatever other accolades can be used to describe you, it will not help you, so far as your soul is concerned, if you are not connected to the Vine.  Unless we stay connected to the Vine, we will, without a doubt, wither and die.  We must abide in Christ (ver. 4).

No matter who we are or what we do, we must remind ourselves that Jesus is the source of our strength.  The good news is that while without Jesus we can do nothing, with Him we can bear much fruit.  With Paul, we can say, “I can do all things, through Christ who strengthens me.”

• We Must Bear Fruit

John 15 makes it clear that spiritual success depends on fruit-bearing.  If one does not bear fruit, he is useless and must be cut off from the Vine and taken away.  At the end of the day, the most important job of the branch is to bear fruit.  Some branches are pretty and perfectly formed, while other branches are ugly and deformed, but that makes no difference to its value whatsoever.  Some of the most crooked and deformed branches on a vine are sometimes the most fruitful.  On the other hand, a branch might be full of dark, green leaves that are hearty and healthy in appearance but do not bring forth any fruit at all.  Guess what the vinedresser is going to do with that branch?  He is going to cut it off.  Why?  Because it is not doing what it is meant to do—bear fruit.  What happens to those not bearing fruit.  Jesus said they are thrown into the fire and burned (ver. 6).

• Fruitful Branches Must Be Pruned

The Vinedresser isn’t only concerned with the branches that aren’t bearing fruit; He has to pay attention to the fruit-bearing branches as well.  He removes things from the branches that drain their vitality and strength. It might be a misdirected shoot, useless buds, or even discolored leaves.  Anything on the branch that consumes life but produces no fruit has to be removed!

God knows all of this more than any earthly vine-dresser.  He knows that even good, faithful Christians that are bearing fruit, need some attention, that is, they need some pruning from time to time (ver. 2).  You may have a problem with time management.  Maybe the spirit of fear has crept into your life.  Perhaps you worry too much, or materialism has gotten the best of you.  Whatever it is, there is something in your life that God knows will, if it continues, prohibit you from bearing fruit.  Through His providential care, perhaps by allowing some trial or tribulation into your life, He does some pruning.  Don’t worry, just remember you are a faithful branch, and once in a while pruning becomes necessary.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.