Every Branch is Unique

Key Verse to Read and Treasure

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. (I Corinthians 12:4, NLT)  

For Insight:

You and I are branches on Jesus’ Vine, but we have been created by the Father, individually and we both have a unique purpose which also determines what spiritual gifts the Holy Spirit assign to us. The spirit weighs our temperament, our personality, our talents which the Father has sown into us in the womb, and always staying within the Father’s plans and will for our lives he assigns our gifts.    

David said we are “fearfully and wondrously made”. Some translations say awesomely and remarkably made. No matter which Bible translation we read, Psalm 139:114 all have the same meaning: You and I are a beautiful, special creation of the Father. Someone he spent time knitting together and creating especially for special purposes, that can reach our full potential and bear fruit when we abide in Jesus.

There are more than 10,000 varieties of grapes in the world. My knowledge and experience of grapes don’t come anywhere near the number of varieties growing. Not all grapes make good wine or juice. Some grapes have been developed by using grafting methods. Some grapes are naturally bitter and others sweet. Some grapes make better jams and jellies. Some grapes end up being our favorite ones to eat. I love dark red or black grapes because of their natural sweetness but some people prefer the tarter grapes. Personal tastes say whether people love seedless or seeded grapes. We could go on and on about the uniqueness of grapes and their uses.

Just as grapes come in a wide variety so too the people of God and how the Spirit has gifted us. As we abide in Jesus our spiritual gifts are cultivated and honed. The more we abide the deeper our understanding of their uses and our desire to use them effectively for the Father’s glory increases.  

We can see how the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are always working in unison, in concert with one another to assure every abiding believer accomplishes his or her purpose. The more we abide in Christ, the more we are available to the Spirit, the more we submit to the Father, the more we will bear their fruit and our branch will be overflowing, abundant with fruit that pleases the Lord.  

Dear Heavenly Father, I understand I have been uniquely and wondrously made. Help me to know who I am in Jesus and what I have been created to do. May my abiding relationship be rich and sweet and produce good fruit as I am meant to do.    

For Application

Is your branch becoming full of grapes produced from your commitment of abiding in Jesus? Just like you used to be the fruit someone else bore, the fruit you bear today will someday be their own branch on Jesus’ Vine.

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