#JESUS2019 - Daily Devotionalsनमूना

The term “remain in Jesus” is often used in this passage

I’ve got a story for you. It is about Kurt the winemaker: he was standing at the end of his rows of vines, when he noticed that there is a problem with his grapes.

The leaves were drooping down, and he heard the grapes moaning. The Burgundy grapes cried out in unison. Kurt listened for a while, and then he did what every winemaker does. He spoke to the plants. It was time for a boss-to-plant-conversation. He put a chair in between the rows, took off his hat and had a heart-to-heart with them: “So, guys, what is the matter? Why do you look so sad? I imagined this wine to be different.”

No one said anything. Then a slim vine started to move and said: “I just can’t go on”. Then it all came out. “I press and squeeze but the grapes just do not want to come out right.”

The other branches nodded and agreed. “I can’t even bring forth a raisin, because I suffer from grape-infertility”, complained one after the other.

One after the other said, emotionally: “I can’t do this anymore. Life is so strenuous in fall, when I see all the others blossom…”

After a time, Kurt interrupted them: “Guys, no wonder you are all so unhappy. You are trying to do something that you can’t even do! And by doing so you are forgetting to do what you were created to do. Stop forcing the fruit. You merely have to hang on the vine and remain connected to the branch, so stop crying. You will be amazed about what you will bring forth!” 

You think such conversations don’t take place? They do: between God and his children. He hears similar complaints every day.

“Not much is happening in my life spiritually. The only fruit that I have brought forth is fear and worry.” No fruit, and full of worry — this describes so many of us.

Of course we would like to bring joy to other people in the same way as good wine. And we try to press out the good...

Kurt put it simply: “Guys, you just have to hang there.”

ACTION STEP:

Take 5 minutes to ‘hang out’ with Jesus. Tell him what is bothering you, and listen to his comforting words.

Jörg Gräfingholt - ICF Freiburg