Fruitful Branches
FRUITFUL BRANCHES
Read John 15:1-8.
Randy bounced beside Grandpa in the pickup truck. They stopped at the vineyard, and Grandpa got out the long-handled clippers. “I’m going to do some pruning,” he said.
“What’s pruning?” asked Randy.
“When I prune a grapevine, I take out some of the vines or branches.”
“How do you know which branches to cut off?” Randy asked.
“The ones that are attached to the main vine are the branches that I leave,” answered Grandpa. “They’re the strongest and will grow nice, fat grapes. The branches that grow from other branches won’t grow good grapes, so I cut those off.” Grandpa showed Randy how he followed a branch to its beginning to see whether or not it was attached to the main vine.
“Whenever I prune grapevines, I remember what Jesus said about them,” said Grandpa. “Jesus compared Himself to the main vine, and He said people are like the branches. Some are the true branches attached to the vine and will be fruitful. Others are just branches to be cut off.”
“Which people are the true branches?” asked Randy.
“Those who trust in Jesus as the way to heaven,” answered Grandpa. “The other branches are those who try to get there on their own.”
“I’ve asked Jesus to forgive my sins, and I love Him. So I’m a true branch, right?” Randy asked.
“Right you are,” said Grandpa.
HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you attached to Jesus, the Vine? Or are you attached to your church, your baptism, or your good works? There is only one way to get to heaven, and that is to trust Jesus to forgive your sins. If you do that, you’ll be like a fruitful branch attached to the vine. If you’ve never asked Jesus to be your Savior, you can do it right now!
TO MEMORIZE:
I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.
John 15:5
BE ATTACHED TO JESUS.
From the book
