June 10, 2026

“I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me. If anyone does not remain in me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned.” – John 15:5-6

Sometimes we make our spiritual lives so much more complex than they need to be. Don’t get me wrong, the eternal part of who we are is of utmost importance. However, when it comes to the health and care of our spirit, Jesus often puts it in very simple terms. In John 15 he compares it to a branch. Any branch that is firmly connected to the vine is very fruitful. Any branch that is disconnected from the vine withers away and dies. Clear, simple, obvious, and to the point.

So why do we have so much trouble applying this to our spiritual lives? A life that is connected to Christ through prayer, time in his Word, fellowship with believers, and worship will always be a fruit-bearing life; healthy and strong because the Vine is healthy and strong. Conversely, the more we are disconnected from the things of God, the more we wither away and die. I do not know how many times in my nearly 30 years of ministry people have disappeared for months or even years and then one day give me a call, completely confused as to why they are spiritually dead. They don’t understand why there is no love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, or self-control in their lives. The answer is simple: you are not connected to the Vine! You cannot bear the Fruit of the Spirit unless you are in step with the Savior. The answer is not complex. The only question that remains is whether you are willing to make that connection to the Vine the number one priority in your life.

Heavenly Father, please fill us with a passion to stay connected to the Vine of Jesus Christ in every way possible.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Shane Cannon