“Yes, I am the Vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing.” – John 15:5 NLT
Have you ever felt disoriented, but you don’t know why? Maybe you’ve felt dissatisfied, anxious, or aimless, but you can’t quite put your finger on the root of your problem?
Often, I have felt this way, and then Sunday church comes along, or I find myself at a Bible study, and I notice something interesting happening internally. Whenever I gather to worship and pray with other believers, those negative feelings somehow fade away.
They are replaced with strength and inspiration once again. I became reoriented and realigned simply by connecting with Jesus and sharing His life with other people. I was socially misaligned before, but then I was adjusted by the Heavenly Physician back into correct alignment.
But why did this simple act of participating in an event cause an inner clarity to unexpectedly fill me? Our answer lies hidden within the beauty of this glorious Vine and His branches.
If you think about a mature vine with only one branch coming forth, the vine wouldn’t be fruitful. In fact, there would be something wrong with the vine.
Now picture the most fruitful vine on earth, full of life and bearing grape-producing branches, each interwoven with the others. When more fruitful branches are gathered, the more glorious the vine is to behold. In light of that simple truth, here’s the glaring issue that we face today:
56% of Christians feel that their spiritual life is entirely private.
27% of believers have not returned to an in-person fellowship even after fully reopening churches.
We have a new pandemic of “doing church on our own,” and it’s a deadly disease that hurts us and ultimately distorts the image of the Vine.
So, should you feel guilty if you haven’t regularly met with believers in fellowship recently? Absolutely not! Instead, think about the excitement and opportunity that God has set before us to give extra glory and honor to His Son when we worship together.
Psalm 34:3 enthusiastically says, “Come, let us tell of the LORD’s greatness; let us exalt His name together.” Then, simply press the reset button of God’s grace, and pursue the goal of healthy, thriving, holistic connection as His branches gather as one to glorify The True Vine.
Dig Deeper
- What was a fantastic moment you’ve had while gathering with other believers?
- Where do you think the Lord is sending you to serve and be connected?
