Spring is a time for gardening and working on the yard. The azaleas and dogwoods and and rhodies are blooming all over town. Shelton is beautiful this time of year. Brenda may be the one with the green thumb in our family, but I do stuff, too. I’m good at mowing, digging large holes, pruning, and writing checks to the nursery.

The Bible says that God likes gardening, too. Genesis 2:8-9 says that God planted a garden east of Eden, planting all kinds of trees and bushes that were “pleasing to the eye and good for food.” In today’s Bible reading, Jesus tells us that the One who sent him is like a faithful farmer, a good gardener. He compares himself to a Vine, and claims that you and me are mini versions of the Divine Vine, planted and cultivated to bear good fruit. Let’s dig into this Biblical metaphor and see what kind of fruit we can glean for our lives today. Grab a Bible, turn to John 15:1-8.

God, let our hearts be good soil, open to the seed of your word. Amen.

John 15:1-8

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 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. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.