The Master Gardener

Saturday, June 27th, 2026

8:43 am

Good morning! Today I am in John 15:1-17. Jesus tells His disciples that He is the true grapevine and His Father is the gardener. His Father cuts off every branch of His that doesn't produce fruit, and He prunes the branches that do not bear fruit so they will produce even more. He tells them that they have already been pruned and purified by His message. And if they remain in Him, He will remain in them. He tells them that a branch cannot bear fruit if it is severed from the vine, and they cannot be fruitful unless they remain in Him. He is the vine and they are the branches. And those that remain in Him, and He in them, will produce much fruit, for apart from Him they can do nothing. He warns them that anyone that does not remain in Him is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. These branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if they remain in Him and His Words remain in them, they could ask for anything they want, and it would be granted. When they produce much fruit, they are His true disciples, and this brings great glory to His Father. He tells them that He has loved them just as the Father has loved Him, so they should remain in His love. When they obey His commandments, they remain in His love, just as He obeys His Father's commands and remains in His love. He tells them these things so they would be filled with His joy, and their joy would overflow. He tells them that His command for them is to love each other in the same way as He has loved them. And there is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends. He tells them that they are His friends if they do what He commands. He no longer calls them slaves, but friends because He has told them everything His Father had told Him. He tells them that they didn't choose Him, but He chose them. He appointed them to go out and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father would give them whatever they asked for using His name.

Jesus tells us right here that He chose us, we didn't choose Him on our own. He calls each of us to Him. And the more we remain in His Word, the more He purifies us, making us more and more like Him. Giving us the opportunity to produce lasting fruit for Him and His people. Bringing each of us so much joy it will overflow out of us. The more time we spend in His Word, the more fruit we will produce. And the more the Father prunes us, getting rid of anything that keeps us or distracts us from Him. I love that! And it is so awesome to know that without Him we can do nothing. That sounds kind of harsh in a way, but its awesome in the fact that we don't have to strive or over work ourselves, and stress ourselves out to accomplish things. All we have to do is lean into Him. We lean into Him for the strength to do what He calls us to. We lean into Him for guidance into what to do next. We don't have to stress ourselves out because He has got everything under control in His perfect way and timing. And because of our trust and obedience to Him, He blesses us with everything we need. We don't have to stress because the Master Gardener has got everything under control.

The more we spend time with Him, the more He will help us and bless us. That does not mean that life will be easy, or go exactly how we have pictured or tried to plan, but that He will be with us every step of the way. His way is perfect. His love is perfect. His justice is perfect. God is perfect. Don't look to the world to tell you what you need. Look to God, our Father. His ways are not the world's ways. And His ways are perfect. Trust Him and allow Him room in your life.