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Vines, Branches

 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5,8)

          This is one of those passages we hear about and read about a lot. We understand about vines and branches. We’re at least tempted to say, “Yeah, yeah, yeah” as we circle our hand in the “move it along” gesture. And, of course, our “hurry up” attitude shows that we aren’t abiding. We’re taking charge.

          I have to laugh at myself, because since today’s passage came up on Biblegateway.com, I’ve been thinking about it. After lunch, I ran a couple errands, and I came home to find that the maintenance guys had pruned one of my palm trees. I knew they would eventually, but they are pruning them all, and leaving the branches in place until they get them all pruned and can gather them up.

          It is taking a great deal of effort and will-power to not go load them on my truck (they’ll fit nicely across my tonneau cover) and take them to the garbage, along with any others I find along the way. I just can’t abide them being there. Waiting. And it’s not that I’m one of those wonderful “spotlessly clean” folks. Far from it. The problem is that waiting for them to come get them means that they are in charge, and I am not.

          And I think that’s the same problem we have when we’re told we’re branches, and that we’re supposed to remain in Christ. We love the idea. It’s wonderful. We’re so glad for the opportunity. Praise Him! (And all that stuff.) Until we actually have to sit there…and wait. In other words, until we actually have to do the abiding part. After all, we could help. We’d only be helping. Really. It would make His life easier. He’s so busy. What’s taking Him so long? He should be grateful.

          Oops. The whole thing about abiding or remaining is that it requires that we live with, put up with, remain with or abide with things even when we aren’t pleased. Abiding is about “not my will, but Thine be done.” Abiding is about bending the knee. It’s about love, patience, and trust. And it’s hard.


PS. I lasted until 5:30 before I loaded them  up and got rid of them. About 3.5 hours before my patience ran out. 


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