I’ve always been a tad bit rebellious. So when someone tells me what to do, I often want to do the opposite. Can you relate?

Except when God speaks! I always want to do what He tells me to do. Whether I do it is another thing, but when I hear Him speak, I try to listen and obey.

That’s why this post is so important. Because what I’m about to write does NOT come from me, but from God.

Here’s what Jesus said: “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener…Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me” (John 15:1, 4). 

I often say that John 15 is a foundational chapter for the believer. A primary teaching.

A cornerstone for our faith!

So based on this passage, what does every believer NEED to do? Here it is: it is mandatory that we draw ALL our nourishment from the VINE.

Not half! Not part! Not a fraction!

But ALL!

A branch cannot survive without staying connected to the vine. In this allegory, believers are called branches. And in the context of the church, believers need to be nourished completely from Jesus. From the Word of God!

I felt led to write this post because while we know this passage of Scripture, we may not be doing it. There are many things we are clinging to for sustenance, but NOTHING will ever satisfy us like the VINE.

Why? Because we read that Jesus is the “TRUE Vine” (John 15:1). Anything else, apart from Jesus, is a false vine. Therefore, only the TRUE Vine can give us what we need for daily life.

Here are six reasons why we need to draw our nourishment from the TRUE Vine:

The TRUE Vine…

1) Gives us abundant life!

You may be living, but can you say that you are experiencing the abundant life Jesus came for (John 10:10)?

Are you full of life, joy, and contentment? Are you at peace?

These things are awesome benefits, but can only be fully achieved when we pull all our nourishment from the TRUE Vine.

Abundant life is ours! All we have to do is receive it by staying connected to truth, not deception.

2) Helps us find our true identity!

1 Peter 2:9 says that we belong to Jesus. Then why do we often think our identity is found in people, careers, talents, and social circles?

It’s common for non-believers to put their identity in these things because they don’t know the true source. But, believers don’t have an excuse.

I know many people who put their spouse on a pedestal. They lift them up to an exalted position. They expect them to meet all their needs. They put high expectations on them.

We do this with children, friends, jobs, and our church.

You may ask what’s wrong with this? Well for starters, these things are human (or of the human nature) and are prone to fail.

They simply cannot meet all our needs. So, when a spouse fails to remember his anniversary, or a child rebels, or a boss passes us over for a promotion, or we’re hurt by someone in the church; then anger and/or disappointment rises to the surface.

And when this happens, bitterness can easily grow.

Everyone loses when we fail to draw our nourishment from the TRUE Vine.

3) Leads us with purpose!

So many believers are floundering without purpose. They question where they belong. They seek direction.

They don’t have many goals and they wonder what their God-given mission is.

Here’s the thing: when we let the sap from the TRUE Vine fill every inch of our bodies, then God’s purpose will rise to the surface.

We’ll finally be driven by HIS purpose.

4) Conquers jealousy!

Jealousy is a common thing in the church. People covet what others have: their beauty, their money, their talents/gifts, their joy, and their contentment.

Jealousy brings division. Relationships cannot survive if one person is unhappy and wants what someone else has.

James addressed this to his readers: “What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them” (James 4:1-2).

Jealousy can be known by our actions and words, but can also exist in the heart.

But, when we drink in the nutrition from the TRUE Vine, it is enough. We will be content with who we are and what we have.

5) Strengthens relationships!

This point is one of the best benefits to drawing our sustenance from the TRUE Vine. 

Confidence in who you are and who God made you to be always shines brightly. Others will love to be around you. 

You will be a better spouse, friend, parent, co-worker, and neighbor. 

Everyone wins!

6) Makes us produce lasting fruit!

Jesus said, “When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to God” (John 15:8). I know that you, like me, want to bring glory to God. Well, here is how to do it.

Sometimes visuals help us to picture it. Ponder the graphic below:

Both vines speak a truth found in John 15. We need to bear fruit for the kingdom work to continue. And the only way to do that is to cling to the ONLY source of growth: the TRUE Vine.

And the fruit that comes from this branch will be rewarded when we get to heaven (1 Corinthians 3:10-15).

Drawing ALL our nourishment from the TRUE Vine is a win/win situation in every area of our lives.

Jesus is the TRUE Vine and is the ONLY One who can meet all our needs. 

I trust that today’s post encouraged you in some way. Please pass it on.

Blessings,