I eagerly watch as my first green tomato crop grows heartily on the vine. I can almost taste the juicy, red tomato next to a bacon slice surrounded by leafy lettuce all sandwiched between two pieces of toast.

But patient I must be. The harvest can’t be hurried. However there are things I can do to promote success such as.

*Faithful watering

*Adequate sunshine

*Occasional fertilizing

The sturdy vine connects to the branches that support the tomato. If for some reason, the branch becomes detached from the vine, the growth process stops. Fruit cannot happen without its source of strength.

The apostle John talks about how God is the gardener in John 15:1, 4–5. “I am the vine, and my Father is the gardener … remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

Just like the sturdy vine connects to the branches supporting the tomato, God is the vine of protection. There are certain things I can do in order to strengthen the vine such as:

*Spending time in prayer and reading the Bible

*Seeking out spiritual mentors and friends

*Regular church attendance with those of like faith

Without a combination of the above, life becomes unbalanced. We need God and each other to survive and thrive.

Do you feel connected to the vine? If so, in what way?

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