Connected and Growing

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes so that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit—for apart from Me, you can do nothing.” John 15:1-5

Kelly and I recently had the opportunity to volunteer at the historical center on Jekyll Island, where we’ve been staying. My particular job was to help guests with disabilities safely on and off the trolley. I must’ve passed by the same bush about twenty times that day—just going about my task.

But at one point, I really looked at it.

It was an Oleander shrub, and it caught my eye—not because it was anything new, but because something about it seemed to speak a deeper truth. I stood there for a moment and thought, This… this is a picture of the Christian life. Of our church community.

All of the flowers on that shrub were growing from the same vine. They were receiving the same water, the same nutrients, the same sunlight—just like we, as believers, receive life from the same source: Jesus Christ.

We, as believers, receive life from the same source: Jesus Christ.

But even though the source was the same, the flowers were at all different stages. Some were in full bloom—bright, open, beautiful. Others were just beginning to bud. And some were somewhere in between.

And I thought: Isn’t that just like the church?

We are all at different places in our journey. Some of us are seasoned and mature in faith. Some are brand new, just beginning to understand the grace of Jesus. And many of us fall somewhere in between—growing, learning, maybe even struggling.

But no matter where we are, we are all connected to the same vine.

And that vine is Christ.

So today, whether you feel like you’re flourishing or just starting to grow—remain in Him. Stay rooted. Stay connected. Because apart from Him, we can do nothing. But in Him… we bear much fruit.

Apart from Him, we can do nothing. But in Him… we bear much fruit.

-Ron Polhamus, Guest Writer