It's a Vine and Branch thing...

So.... In our yard right by the porch is the most amazing vine growing on a tree.  I wish I could take credit for it but I can't.  It's beautiful all on its own.  It grows because it wants to and at this point, I doubt if I could kill it.  The roots must go under the house and to the neighbors and on to downtown... or to China, perhaps.

The fragrance is beautiful.  It's light, fresh, appealing, without being cloying or overly anything.  This vine is a pleasure to be around.  Not all of our flowering trees and plants are this accomodating.  We have a couple of trees that smell like dirty socks right about graduation party time... One whiff and the wincing begins... if you know what I mean.  But this lovely vine has a lovely fragrance that attracts humans and bumblebees.

Each little branch has a mission to bear as many flowers as possible.  Each flower is small and not overly spectacular by itself but the effect of all the flowers together is magnificent!

This vine has another mission:  it spreads.  Each of those tiny, seemingly ineffective flowers must send out about a bigillion seeds because I have tiny vines started everywhere...  I do mean everywhere...

While enjoying all of this magnificence, I am reminded of what Jesus said, "I am the Vine, you are the branches."  If He was visibly standing beside this amazing vine in my yard, he would say, "Yup, that is what I mean.  Please learn from it...."

Each little branch grows from one single vine and receives strength and character from the vine...

Each little branch makes blooms...

Each little branch sends out seeds....

That's what we believers in the church as supposed to do!

I am to take on the strength and character of Jesus being rooted and grounded in my faith.

I am to bear the fruit of the Spirit:  love, peace, joy, kindness, patience, gentleness.

I am to share my faith to plant seeds and encourage seeds of faith in others.

And most of all, all of us believers together should be attractive... We are supposed to smell fresh and appealing.  A church of believers is supposed to be beautiful and love to grow and grow and grow...

Frankly, watching this vine and branch thing teaches me one more thing...  All the branch has to do is stay connected to the vine.  Obviously, if a branch gets separated from the vine it will die...  The vine does all the work!  The branch cannot do anything by itself without being connected.

Could it be?  All I have to do is stay connected to Christ?  And He will do all the work???

John 15:5.  "I am the Vine, you are the branches.  If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing."