-- John 15:1 --

In John 15:1 Jesus said, "I AM the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. (2) Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he TAKETH AWAY and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit."

The word in the original Greek for "taketh away" is "airei". One of the definitions of this word is to "lift up stones". In terms that a grape grower would understand back then, it described a method of protecting the young shoots which would develop on the main branch of a grape vine. It was the act of lifting a grape vine and propping it on a rock so the vine would be off the ground. This would permit it to produce better fruit.

You see, in Israel, grapes came out in July, August, and September after 5 months of heavy rain. The main vines would produce runners which would tend to lay on the ground and take root. Then, during the next 5 months of hot, dry weather they would wither and die on the ground. The grower would go through his garden, inspecting the vines, lifting up ones on the ground and putting them on rocks. Unable to take root on their own, the small shoots would then be dependent on the main vine for their nourishment.

At times in life we sometimes find ourselves in a position that may tempt us to compromise the Word of God and, because it seems good to the flesh, to the bank account or our own ego, we "slip" and give in to the temptation. Consequently we become ineffective for the Lord. We don't read the Bible. We don't fellowship with other Christians. We may even stop attending church. We become "unfruitful" for the Lord.

After a season of "compromise" something happens. A change in our life brings us to the realization that we must make a choice between God and our "compromising situation". Just as the Prodigal Son was forced to eat with the swine, it was then he "came to himself" and remembered how good he once had it before he was tempted by ways of the world. It was then that he realized he should return home. He did return and was welcomed with open arms. (Refer to Luke 15:11-32)

If you have been tempted and have given in to that temptation, you may find yourself pulled up abruptly in a change of life. It may be a change that is not all that comfortable but it will certainly get your attention and make you ask, "What is going on?".

That change, my friend, is your Husbandman, the Master Gardener, lifting you up and placing you on a stone, in a position where you will have to make a decision. It's Him putting you out of harms way, lifting you up so you won't "take root" in the thing which seemed so right but, so contrary to Him and His Word. It's the Lord letting you know that it's time to "return home", back to His ways, His Word. Back to the main Vine, Jesus.