Harvest Time

1I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
8Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

Sunday our Pastor, Rev. Michael Arnold, shared a message which spoke to me. The text is the Scripture above. Some of the thoughts that stood out to me was how Jesus used the phrase in verse 2 "taketh away" interpreted lifted up. I have a tomato plant that my Mom gave me Mother's Day weekend. I remember planting this small sprout, thinking of the future harvest of tomatoes for cheeseburgers and bacon/tomato sandwiches (hold the lettuce). I was so excited when the plant grew and seemed much to heavy to stand alone. My husband, more of a farmer than I, carefully tied it to a stake.....lifted it up so the fruit wouldn't grow on the ground and spoil. God spoke to me, reminding me of the times He has lifted me up so the leaves of my Spiritual plant would not turn brown and whither thus preventing me from bearing good fruit.

Another thought that Rev. Arnold refreshed in my mind concerns the abundance of the harvest. John spoke in our text, of NO fruit, SOME fruit, MORE fruit, and MUCH fruit. The question that lingered in my mind was: What size fruit basket would you need to contain your Spiritual fruit? Getting back to my tomato plant, It continued to grow, nice and tall. Each time I spoke with my mother I asked if she had tomatoes in her garden. Finally she broke the news to me ....I should have tomatoes by now. I didn't even have a bloom. The appearance was good but there was no fruit. Does this convict your heart as it did mine? Lord, help me not to just appear as a Christian but, help me bear fruit. Not just some fruit but please, let me have an abundant harvest of MUCH fruit so that I may bring Glory to you.

My worthless tomato plant is good for nothing. It will be pulled up and thrown into the burning barrel. In conclusion, may I ask what kind of plant are you? Are you fruitful? How is your harvest? Father, God help each of us to have much fruit to lay at your feet some glad harvest day. Let us not be ashamed, knowing as we sow, so shall we reap. In Jesus name, Amen.