The Jesus Bible Reading Plan / FRUITFUL VINE OR FIREWOOD?

The Jesus Bible Reading Plan

Day 321 of 365 FRUITFUL VINE OR FIREWOOD? The symbol of a grapevine is frequently used in the Bible to refer to God's people, Israel (Ge 49:22; Ps 80:8). God intended for his people to be a "vine" that would produce "fruit," revealing to the surrounding nations who God is and how to be in relationship with him. In the book of Ezekiel, God described his people as a grapevine that was bearing no grapes - a fruitless vine that was useless except as firewood. In the New Testament, Jesus appears to compare the religious leaders of Jerusalem to a fig tree that failed to produce fruit. Desiring to eat the fruit from the tree and having none to eat, Jesus cursed the tree, and the tree withered (Mk 11:12 - 14, 20 - 21). Jesus encourages believers, saying that he is the true vine to whom we must be attached in order to be fruitful: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful" (Jn 15:1 - 2). In Ezekiel, God's people failed to depend on God, and they withered away. Today the evidence of real Christian growth is found in the fruit that God's people bear (Gal 5:22 - 23; Eph 5:9) so that others will see the hope that we have in Jesus and believe (1Pe 3:15 - 16). Jesus, don't let me wither away! Please help me to produce fruit for you, so others will see your truths at work in my life. Amen. Ezekiel 15:1-5 NASB 1 Then the word of the L ord came to me, saying, 2 "Son of man, how is the wood of the vine better than any wood of a branch which is among the trees of the forest? 3 Can wood be taken from it to make anything, or can men take a peg from it on which to hang any vessel? 4 If it has been put into the fire for fuel, and the fire has consumed both of its ends and its middle part has been charred, is it then useful for anything? 5 Behold, while it is intact, it is not made into anything. How much less, when the fire has consumed it and it is charred, can it still be made into anything! Psalms 80:8 NASB 8 You removed a vine from Egypt; You drove out the nations and planted it. 1 Peter 3:15-16 NASB 15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; 16 and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.