Stay Connected

John 15:⁵ “I am the sprouting vine and you’re my branches.  As you live in union with me as your source, fruitfulness will stream from within you—but when you live separated from me you are powerless.” (TPT)

The third metaphor God uses to represent the church in scriptures is the organic picture of a fruit tree, a grape vine. When you and I connect to that grape vine, to the fruit tree, guess what happens? When we connect it connects us to the Power of Christ. That is how it works. Jesus said in John 15:⁵ “I am the Vine and you are the branches! If you stay connected to me and I am connected to you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (NIV, paraphrased, emphasis added). What is Jesus saying here? He is saying connections give you traction and empower you for fruitfulness.

Take a microwave oven for example, if you disconnect it from power, it cannot warm your food. Similarly, disconnecting your television from the power source does not change the fact that content is still available, but the television is just not productive any longer. Imagine a beautiful house that is not connected to the grid, nothing is going to happen. What I am saying is the connections that you have determine the productivity of your life, the traction that you get, the control that you have, and the forward movement that you achieve. When I was in the university, I was driving a panel van that was for my mother, it was driven by my eldest brother, I think my immediate elder brother drove it also, then it became my car.

That car and I were so connected that if it is going to break down in five minutes, I usually would have a feeling that something is going to happen. And most times when it happens, I fix it myself. Not because I am a mechanic or anything, but because I kind of know what has gone wrong. And most times, it is a connection issue, a cable problem. But if you do not get that cable connected, you are grounded. Guess what? That is how it is with us, there is just one connection that if you do not get right, you are in trouble.

John 15:⁴ “…A branch cannot produce any fruit by itself. It has to stay attached to the vine. In the same way, you cannot produce fruit unless you live in me.” (GW, emphasis added). So, connections make us productive. If you have good relationships, you will have a fruitful life. If you notice that your life is not productive, not fruitful, then check your relationships. Unfortunately, some people have turned their backs on relationships that are key to their destinies. I pray that you will not make that kind of error in the Mighty Name of Jesus. Your life’s impact will largely be determined by the connections that you have.

Prayer: Father, by Your Spirit, keep me connected to the Vine, in Jesus Name. Amen!