everlasting Archives – Sonshine's Journal

John 15 Jesus is the Vine…

Have you walked along with the vine dresser as he moves from plant to plant? You watch and see how faithful a worker is he as he takes his hands to carefully lift the vines that are drooping or he takes his sharp shears to cut off the dead vines. Our Master Jesus is our vinedresser and He tenderly lifts us out of our sin that we might produce much fruit. Fruit is the evidence of our abiding in Him. Without abiding, we cannot bear fruit for it is He who gives us life everlasting.

Jesus said: My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. When we love one another we are producing the fruit that lasts. When we fail to love, He, Jesus, comes to us to prune us so that we will bear much fruit.

Yesterday Jesus said we would do greater works than He and today in Jn 15 this greater work is that we love one another. This is the fruit that God looks for in our lives. Are you abiding or is He gathering your drooping vines so that you can take in the sun to produce a greater work? Beware that the vinedresser does not find a dead vine in you that needs to be cut off.

A good question to ask oneself might be: Where am I today in my spiritual walk? Have I stopped to thank God for His many provisions of blessings?

In Psalm 102 we find that the psalmist is “in the pits.” The psalmist visualizes life alone, life without hope. “I am like an owl in the wilderness;” bereft of friendship and like a ruin that has been abandoned; like the solitary bird on a rooftop, alone and separated from company. In sharp contrast, in Psalm 103 he is soaring like the eagle, the bird that commands the heavens with its ability to fly to the heights of the clouds and descend with a crescendo to capture its prey, in control over others. C.H. Spurgeon wrote: Renewal of strength, amounting to a grant of a new lease of life, was granted to the Psalmist; he was so restored to his former self that he grew young again, and looked as vigorous as an eagle, whose eye can gaze upon the sun, and whose wing can mount above the storm. It is in this time that the psalmist reflects how blessed he has become because of the Lord’s provision and protection.

In reading this psalm reflect on the word “all” and count the many ways that God has touched your life. As a pastor and poet, H. F. Lyte did just that and wrote a famous hymn “Praise, My Soul, The King of Heaven.” The first stanza sums up his thoughts as he reflected in his time of prayer and praise:

Praise, my soul, the King of Heaven;
To His feet thy tribute bring.
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
Evermore His praises sing:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise the everlasting King.

Take time today and ponder the many blessings that God has placed before you. “God’s blessings… include forgiveness of sins, healing from sickness, deliverance from death, enrichment of life, satisfaction, and rejuvenation.” [Constable].

Ponder the eagle as a picture of rejuvenation. The eagle mates for life, builds his nest at the very tops of trees, remains strong and lives the longest of any bird, often to 38 yrs. The eagle remains vigorous, symbolizing power, freedom and transcendence, meaning that they surpass and exceed in superiority to the end of their lives. “Likewise God enables His people to remain spiritually vigorous until death.” [Constable]

Where are you today in your spiritual walk? Stop and meditate upon this psalm today and be renewed like the eagle.

Tag: everlasting

11.20.24. The Vinedresser

Soar Like the Eagle!