Devotion - Wednesday, April 24

in John 15, Jesus speaks of himself as the vine, the Father as the vinedresser.  He reminds us that unless the branches remain attached to the vine, they wither and die.  He also points out that the job of the vinedresser is to prune the branches, cutting away some so that more fruit might be produced.

Words which certainly encourage if not demand that we remain connected to God.

Which lead to my prayers this morning including petitions of thankfulness for those who share my days and the activities of LCM.  Not every thing we do are overt expressions of our piety.  Yesterday's lunch at CORE is an example.  But every gathering is a reminder of the vine which joins us.

My prayers this morning also lifted those known to us but not among us.  The last thing I ever want to do, as a campus pastor, is be the attendance police.  God's love for us is not conditional and neither is being "included" in the circle of this community.  My prayer is a hope that each has some community providing for them the basic nurture needed in order to face the challenges and events of life.  There are many other places to be reminded of God's care and compassion, LCM-C is but one.  When those known to me are not attached through LCM-C, I do pray for God's assurance they are connected somewhere and that they are benefiting from the shared history and resources of God's people.

The branches are where the vine focuses all its attention.  The branches are where the ends are achieved.  The branches do their part of the work, but they know that the vine will keep them alive and supplied.  There is so much for which vines can give thanks and then not worry.

John 15.  It is a comforting and instructive chapter.