Vines, Branches and Trees – Grow Up Into Jesus

James 1:5 If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given him.

Years ago, while driving a semi in the winter, from central Colorado to Western Wyoming , I discovered I had a lot of time on my hands. While driving I got this crazy thought: You’ve got parts of the book of James memorized – Why don’t you memorize the whole book? When I began the undertaking one thing that annoyed me was that it seemed to be a mixture of disjointed thoughts. But as I was provoked with questions I slowly began to see their interconnectedness. For example in verses 2-12 you see that if you are going through trials – you should consider it joy. Why? Ask for wisdom. To ask for wisdom during the trial requires belief, and humility. As you submit to the process above – you grow and mature, become integrated (no longer double-minded or two souled), and you receive the Crown of Life. Now that should be counted ALL joy!

This wisdom provides an understanding of the process. Understanding the process empowers you to cooperate and grow rather than kicking, screaming, and resisting the Hand of the Lord. For example yesterday I was reviewing some Scripture memory. Before I began I asked two questions: Is this empowering me to be connected to Jesus? Am I making room for Jesus in this process? After checking myself spiritually, and focusing my minds attention on connecting with the Lord – not just reviewing Scripture, John 15:1-2 stood out to me: I am the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser. ² Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit [that stops bearing] He cuts away (trims off, takes away); and He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit.

What struck me was that Jesus was identifying with the Vine. The Vine He is – is being pruned by His Father the Vine Dresser. Even more startling is that Jesus had some branches that weren’t bearing fruit, and branches that were. The branches that were – got exposed to the process of pruning in order for them to bear more fruit.

When I was around 14 years old I began searching for God. One of the things I was drawn to was a simple little devotional called My Daily Bread. One of those devotionals pointed out the promise found in James 1:5 and so I began praying this promise almost everyday of my young life into adulthood. As I began to see the promise manifested I added other promises to my daily routine. I added insight, knowledge, foresight, discernment, and sensitivity to the Holy Spirit – and those grew. But what I failed to see was that I was growing even though I was heavily demonized, self-centered, arrogant, angry and proud. In our maturing process the enemy will often remind us of our failures, regrets, and shame. But the tares always grow with the wheat. The question is, Are we sowing more wheat than tares – every harvest? Eventually the wheat of God’s Word will choke out the tares and you don’t even realize it. (You didn’t even have to help God by tearing out your tares).

Back in May 2023 we were doing a prophetic exercise with our church in which everyone received a number. These numbers were folded in half, thrown into a basket, and jumbled up. Our facilitator then took the basket and had everyone blindly choose one of the folded pieces of paper. The only person who knew their number was you. Matt Wagenmaker drew my number and wrote the following on a 3×5 index card: Extremely large tree, with a thick trunk and a large canopy of leaves which is flowing next to a river. I still have that index card. Why? Because it sums up everything James is talking about. What Matt “saw” was Psalm 1:2-3 But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night.³ And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity]. That word blesses me to this day. I keep it in my Bible as a treasure, a reminder and an encouragement.

As followers of Jesus our process is daunting, but simply stated: Grow up into Jesus. You might ask, How? Start with Wisdom (that’s Jesus in the Old Testament. He’s Truth in the New Testament). Get understanding regarding the Words meaning. (Wisdom commands that) Obey and apply all that you know and understand.

You see Jesus is not only the True Vine, He is the Tree of Life planted by the Rivers of the Holy Spirit and His leaves never wither. While focusing on this simple process you eventually become assimilated into Who He is. Small things pay off into eternally, big dividends and rewards – AND – Wisdom crowns us with Life.

That screwed up, nobody teenager took God at His Word, and started becoming His tree. And all of it begins with simple faith.