BROADCASTS.com

\u201cI am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful\u201d (John 15:1-2).

In John 15, Jesus offers us some keen insights into being His disciples. The Bible uses a variety of phrases to fill out our understanding of faith in God. In 2 Peter we had the phrase, \u201cgrow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ\u201d (2 Peter 3:18). Yesterday, we heard two Old Testament phrases, \u201cthe way of the righteous\u201d (Psalm 1:6) and the challenge to Israel, \u201cnow choose life\u201d (Deuteronomy 30:19).

Here, Jesus uses agricultural imagery to help us understand the Christian life. Today, I want to consider only this: we humans are both physical and spiritual beings. Its easy for us to understand our physicality: eating, sleeping, working, playing \u2013 all physical activities. Healthy eating and sleeping patterns lead to better health. Becoming hungry and tired and sore remind us that we are physical. Moreover, many of us have discovered the limitations of virtual relationships. Physical presence offers us something that virtual realities miss.

But we are also spiritual beings. This is more difficult. For many decades, western culture has promoted the idea that we are only bodies. When we die, there is nothing left \u2013 finito. We are born, then we die, living a brief time in between; what we do with our time between birth and death doesn\u2019t matter much. But Christians believe it does.

Spirituality is subtle. It has to do with our morality, discerning between right and wrong; it deals with attitudes and priorities. It also speaks to what happens when we die. As Christians, we believe that after death our bodies decompose while our souls go to be with God. But in the end, when Christ returns, our bodies will be resurrected to be reunited with our souls. They belong together.

As our bodies need food, drink and sleep, so our souls need nourishment. This is what Jesus addresses in John 15:1, \u201cI am the true vine\u2026\u201d Here is one of those places where the Bible keeps Christianity very simple. To be a Christian is to be connected to the Christian vine: Jesus.

Jesus is the only soul food for Christians. He echoed Moses, \u201cWe do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God\u201d (Matthew 4:4). And then he added, \u201cI am the bread of life\u201d (John 6:48). If we want spiritual life, food for our souls, we must feed on Jesus. Feeding on Jesus leads us in the way of the righteous, it is choosing life, it enables us to discern between good and evil, it causes us to grow in grace and knowledge.

As you prepare for summer, here are some questions to ponder: How does being spiritual affect me? Do I care for both my body and my soul? We cannot truly separate these two. If we neglect our bodies, our souls tend to shrink. If we neglect our souls, we will either neglect our bodies or make them into idols.

How do I stay connected to the true vine? Bible reading, prayer, worship, etc. Reflect on how you best engage with these practices. Do I connect more with Jesus \u2018in the prayer closet\u2019 or \u2018when I pray with others\u2019? Do I enjoy reading the Bible by myself or does it come alive when I get to discuss it with others?

As you stay connected to the vine:

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you: wherever he may send you. May he guide you through the wilderness: protect you through the storm. May he bring you home rejoicing; at the wonders he has shown you. May he bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.