A few days ago I was looking around the yard and noticed how the plants and the trees had grown this year. This year we had vines growing across the fence. There was one section of the vine that looked different from the rest. I went over to inspect the branch. It wasn’t growing. It was dying. Even though it was intertwined with the others, this branch had been severed from the vine. Attached to the vine it would have kept growing across the fence. Apart from the vine it was dead and worthless. How important is Jesus in your life? Maybe a better question is how important is Jesus for your life? Jesus vividly describes for his disciples life with and without Jesus and his Word.

Jesus said, “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.  6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.  7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.  8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” John 15:5-8

How important is Jesus and his Word to our lives? He is everything. Apart from faith in Jesus we are still dead in our sins, we can do nothing. Apart from Jesus’ life giving Word we wilt and wither away from our Savior and the gifts of forgiveness, salvation and eternal life that he won for us. Jesus is the vine, he is life. We are the “branches” of our Lord. By faith we have been grafted into Jesus’ death and resurrection. We remain in him and are nourished by him only through the Means of grace, the Gospel in Word and Sacrament.

God’s Word is life. It keeps us faithful, connected to God’s love for the world and his will for our lives. The natural effect of being in Jesus’ Word is life and growth. It is our Heavenly Father’s will and to his glory that we “bear fruit” showing ourselves as the “branches” of our Lord. Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Keep Christ First!

Pastor Chris Christenson