Have you ever visualized scripture before?   By that, I mean taking the Word of God literally (which we should).   For example, here is a picture of some of my knock-out roses.   They are still full of blooms because they have been pruned a couple of times this year.

John 15:1-4
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.   Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away;  and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.   You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.   Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.”

This beautiful bush is producing red roses for us to enjoy because the dead blooms were cut off with big pruning sheers.

It almost doesn’t seem fair that either way — we will be pruned.  The Master Gardener is going to prune us when we don’t produce fruit and when we do.  Either way, it is for our good.

I cut off this bloom this morning.  What do you think will happen to it now that it has been removed from the vine rushing down into the root system to receive nourishment?

Obviously, this bloom will look fresh for a short time and maybe a little longer if I place it in a glass of water.

John 15:5-8
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.   If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.   If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.  By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.”

The definition of ABIDE:
1.  to remain stable or fixed in a state
2.  to continue in a place

When I read verse 5, I think of abiding in God’s presence.  God is ALWAYS with me because His Spirit is with me.  However, how often do I ABIDE in His presence?

If I don’t sit in God’s presence for a while, I can look fresh for a season.  I might even put off a sweet aroma from the times I have abided, but when I don’t take the time to spend in God’s presence, I will eventually dry up.    Sometimes I even feel like this picture:

Not so much physically, though I believe our physical bodies often manifest what happens in the spiritual, but spiritually — I would be dry and brittle.   These would be the times when I would have very little grace or patience with others.   These are the times I would have to strive to pour out, because I haven’t been abiding with my Daddy.  Brittle things are easily disturbed and changed by movement.

How could I produce any godly fruit in that condition?   I couldn’t and neither could you.

Have you been abiding?

Are you connected to the Vine?

Spend some time with Daddy God today and abide.   Fill up and pour out to others who desperately need to see Jesus in you!

Have a wonderful day friends!