Direct Line Connection

“I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined (connected) with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant.

For the uninitiated, Wi-Fi is the wireless technology used to connect computers, tablets, smartphones and other devices to the internet. Wi-Fi is the radio signal sent from a wireless router to a nearby device, which translates the signal into data you can see and use. WiFi quality is usually best when a device is within signal range of the main router. 

In my makeshift bedroom/office, the furthest point in my house from my WiFi router, I happen to have poor connectivity, separated, due to the thick wall's blocking the WiFi signal. Even with the help of a Wifi extender I have found that my connection was continually dropping.

Thankfully our new home has inbuilt ethernet connection points throughout the house. An ethernet cable (in the far away room) lets me physically connect my computer (or device) directly to the internet. Ethernet connections are almost always faster than Wi-Fi connections, and are usually more stable. This "direct line connection" into the router, trumps any WiFi connection for stability.

John chapter 15 talks about our lives having a "strong connection" to Jesus. John uses gardening/husbandry phrases and vineyard terminology, calling Jesus "the true vine" and believers "the branches." Disconnected branches lose out on receiving the life-giving sap flowing from the vine.(Psalm 104:16).

As believers, sometimes, like WiFi, there are things that "block us" connecting with Jesus. Prioritising other things and the busyness of life, amongst other things, can block us making time to cultivate our most important relationship with Jesus.

Some of the ways of directly connecting with Jesus include taking the time to worship, to pray, to fellowship and to read the Bible devotionally.

I pray that you restore a direct connection with Jesus. May you experience daily a strong and stable signal - the life-giving flow of the Spirit of God directing and guiding your life.

Maybe you'd give John chapter 15 a read.

Selah.

John 15

The Message

The Vine and the Branches

15 ^1-3 “I am the Real Vine and my Father is the Farmer. He cuts off every branch of me that doesn’t bear grapes. And every branch that is grape-bearing he prunes back so it will bear even more. You are already pruned back by the message I have spoken.

⁴ “Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can’t bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can’t bear fruit unless you are joined (connected) with me.

^5-8 “I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined (connected) with me and I with you, the relation (-ship) intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated (disconnected) , you can’t produce a thing. Anyone who separates (disconnects) from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples.

^9-10 “I’ve loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my love. If you keep my commands, you’ll remain intimately at home in my love. That’s what I’ve done—kept my Father’s commands and made myself at home in his love.

^11-15 “I’ve told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I’m no longer calling you servants because servants don’t understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I’ve named you friends because I’ve let you in on everything I’ve heard from the Father.

¹⁶ “You didn’t choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won’t spoil. As fruit bearers, whatever you ask the Father in relation to me, he gives you.

¹⁷ “But remember the root command: Love one another.