The Vinedresser
Adam Moore
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.” John 15:1
Today’s verse uses the term “vinedresser” found in the ESV translation of John 15:1. Other translations use terms such as husbandman, farmer, gardener, vintner, and vineyard keeper. I will be the first to admit that I did not always fully understand the term “husbandman,” found in some translations, but I love the way the ESV uses the term, “vinedresser.”
According to the dictionary, a vinedresser is a person who prunes, trains, and cultivates vines. Today’s verse states that Jesus is the vine, but that God the father is the vinedresser. In other words, “the vine” (Jesus) gives life and nourishment, but the life and nourishment are sustained when “the vinedresser” (God the father) cultivates and prunes. You could say that both the vine, and the vinedresser have quite distinct roles, but work together as one to sustain life and growth.
I have a large Concord grape vine growing towards the end of my backyard. I always enjoy watching the grape clusters grow and turn dark purple, but I am not a fan of the actual fruit itself. A few years back I started doing nothing with this vine and figured that since it was towards the back of my yard nobody would care if it were a little overgrown. What I did not realize is that without pruning the vine, the vine would continue to grow, but have very unintentional consequences. Instead of the vine growing across the grapevine arbor for which it was intended, it started growing up my only fruit-producing apple tree and has created a huge mess. It is fair to say that there are now more grapes hanging from my apple tree than there are apples. The vine has choked out much of my apple tree due to neglect on my part for not being the proper vinedresser.
I am glad that our God never gets tired of pruning and shaping us. I am glad that He does not see us as something to be neglected left in the far corner of the backyard. If you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, then new life runs through you. You got connected to the life-giving vine that only Jesus can provide. In just a few more verses Jesus will refer to Himself as “the vine” again and refer to His people as “the branches.” I challenge those of us who have accepted Jesus to go out and bear much fruit as the branches. You can only bear more fruit by staying more connected to “the vine.” Humble yourself before “the vinedresser” and let Him prune and shape you. Do not be like my grapevine which had unintentional consequences when I decided to stop pruning. God is the “vinedresser” that is willing to shape and prune our lives if we only submit.
Adam Moore
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.” John 15:1
Today’s verse uses the term “vinedresser” found in the ESV translation of John 15:1. Other translations use terms such as husbandman, farmer, gardener, vintner, and vineyard keeper. I will be the first to admit that I did not always fully understand the term “husbandman,” found in some translations, but I love the way the ESV uses the term, “vinedresser.”
According to the dictionary, a vinedresser is a person who prunes, trains, and cultivates vines. Today’s verse states that Jesus is the vine, but that God the father is the vinedresser. In other words, “the vine” (Jesus) gives life and nourishment, but the life and nourishment are sustained when “the vinedresser” (God the father) cultivates and prunes. You could say that both the vine, and the vinedresser have quite distinct roles, but work together as one to sustain life and growth.
I have a large Concord grape vine growing towards the end of my backyard. I always enjoy watching the grape clusters grow and turn dark purple, but I am not a fan of the actual fruit itself. A few years back I started doing nothing with this vine and figured that since it was towards the back of my yard nobody would care if it were a little overgrown. What I did not realize is that without pruning the vine, the vine would continue to grow, but have very unintentional consequences. Instead of the vine growing across the grapevine arbor for which it was intended, it started growing up my only fruit-producing apple tree and has created a huge mess. It is fair to say that there are now more grapes hanging from my apple tree than there are apples. The vine has choked out much of my apple tree due to neglect on my part for not being the proper vinedresser.
I am glad that our God never gets tired of pruning and shaping us. I am glad that He does not see us as something to be neglected left in the far corner of the backyard. If you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, then new life runs through you. You got connected to the life-giving vine that only Jesus can provide. In just a few more verses Jesus will refer to Himself as “the vine” again and refer to His people as “the branches.” I challenge those of us who have accepted Jesus to go out and bear much fruit as the branches. You can only bear more fruit by staying more connected to “the vine.” Humble yourself before “the vinedresser” and let Him prune and shape you. Do not be like my grapevine which had unintentional consequences when I decided to stop pruning. God is the “vinedresser” that is willing to shape and prune our lives if we only submit.
Posted in Upper Room
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