Know the Vine
 
“I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener”. ( John 15:1)
 
Until we understand the position of Christ, it is difficult for us to accept our position in Christ. This verse establishes God the father, as the gardener, having full power to grow the vine (Christ).
A gardener carefully chooses the fertile soil then prepares  and makes it right before He plants. Then He plants only that which will give him joy and satisfaction. When the soil was ready He planted the vine (Christ) into human life.
Secondly the gardener begins to meticulously nurture, clean and feed the vine so that it will grow to produce as much fruit as possible.
The Gardener has all the power,
He tills the soil,
Plants the vine,
Waters, fertilizes, trims, and protects the vine.
 
Often I serve with great Christians on the mission field who are sincere, diligent, and wonderful leaders and when things don’t go as they planed they become frustrated and disappointed forgetting God is in control.
Jesus (the true Vine) say’s (God is in control) “my father is the gardener”.  If Jesus never takes control and simply remains obedient to the command of the father, even in the words he chooses, how much more should we who are His disciples remain flexible and obedient.
 
Read John 12: 44-50.
 
1.  How does Christ being the true vine, and God being the gardener reflect upon your position in Christ?                                         
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