真葡萄樹的枝子
約翰福音十五章1至10節
1我是真葡萄樹,我父是栽培的人。
2凡屬我不結果子的枝子,他就剪去;凡結果子的,他就修理乾淨,使枝子結果子更多。
3現在你們因我講給你們的道,已經乾淨了。
4你們要常在我裡面,我也常在你們裡面。枝子若不常在葡萄樹上,自己就不能結果子;你們若不常在我裡面,也是這樣。
5我是葡萄樹,你們是枝子。常在我裡面的,我也常在他裡面,這人就多結果子;因為離了我,你們就不能做甚麼。
6人若不常在我裡面,就像枝子丟在外面枯乾,人拾起來,扔在火裡燒了。
7你們若常在我裡面,我的話也常在你們裡面,凡你們所願意的,祈求,就給你們成就。
8你們多結果子,我父就因此得榮耀,你們也就是我的門徒了。
9我愛你們,正如父愛我一樣;你們要常在我的愛裡。
10你們若遵守我的命令,就常在我的愛裡,正如我遵守了我父的命令,常在他的愛裡。
信息分享
基督並非說:「我是根,你們是枝子」;祂是說:「我是葡萄樹,我是整棵葡萄樹;我是完全和完整的,你們乃是我的一部分。」這個真理豈不是很寶貴嗎?
因此,枝子若要結出葡萄,就必須容讓葡萄樹的汁液在它裡面流通;這樣才能結出果子。我們如何將這個道理應用在自己身上呢?
我們的主用了「常在」這個字詞,來道出實踐這個真理的竅門。基督在第10節為我們作出清楚的解釋:我們若遵守祂的命令,就常在祂裡面了。這就是說,我們只有遵從基督的話,行祂所喜悅的事,我們與祂的相交才能保持暢通無阻。
基督亦因此稱我們是祂的「門徒」(8節)。祂對祂的門徒,究竟有甚麼期望呢?祂期望我們的生命能結出聖靈的果子和甘心事奉的果子,以致讓神得著榮耀。基督一直以來的最大的心願,豈不是讓神得著榮耀嗎?
最後,讓我們每位信徒都反躬自問:我們做人的最大心願,是否要讓神得著榮耀?抑或,我們總是追求自己的榮耀?
禱告:
主啊,求你教導我懂得每天遵行你的話,以致我可以真正住在你的裡面。
BRANCHES OF THE TRUE VINE
John 15: 1 - 10
1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.
2 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.
3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
4 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.
5 “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.
6 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.
7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.
10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
Message
Christ did not say. 'I am the root, you are the branches'. He said, 'I am the vine, the whole vine. I am everything and you are part of me.' Isn't that a wonderful truth?
So that the branch can bear the fruit of the vine, it must be open to allow the sap of the vine to flow through it. Then there will be fruit. How does that apply to us?
Our Lord uses the word 'abide'. It can mean to 'remain in a certain place' but in verse 10 Christ clearly says that to obey him is to abide in him. It means to remain in uninterrupted fellowship with Christ. We can only know his continued fellowship as we obey his words and do those things that please him.
Christ also called us his disciples, learners or followers (v.8). But what does he say about us as disciples? He tells us that as the fruit of the Spirit and the fruit of sacrificial service is seen in our lives, God will be glorified. Isn't that what Christ was and always is most interested in? That was his continual motive.
One final question. Is the glory of God always our one desire or is our own glory what we want tall too often?
A PRAYER:
Lord teach me how to obey your Word day by day so that I may truly abide in you.

