For What It’s Worth… Grafting

John 15:4 4Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me.

Ever since my last mission trip to ECHO in March my interest in grafting has been rekindled. And some of the things I have learned about grafting remind me of John 15:4. For instance, when looking to graft an avocado tree (which I am particularly interested to do) the root stock is of particular importance. If the root stock is the right one for the soil and weather conditions of the area, a lot of different avocado trees can then be grafted onto that same variety of stock and be successful. You see, if the stock isn’t the right one for sandy soil, or acidity, or moisture, etc…the roots (which support the whole tree) could fail. So having the right base is very important when it comes to avocado trees.

And as Jesus is talking here about a branch (not being able to bear fruit unless it abides in the vine) it is the same sort of thing. A branch (or a graft) needs a solid base from which to grow and bear fruit. Of course, as we are followers of Christ, we know that Jesus is that source vine for us all. Jesus is our solid base – which enables and nourishes life. And the word “abide” then also points us toward “living love” but it is the base of
the whole living vine thing that I point out today. The root, the base, the foundational vine for any of us who have been grafted in… is Christ. Jesus, the Christ, is the enabling root base for each of us… and indeed, for all who will receive him!

In my search for a good avocado root base for my grafting efforts here in Melbourne Florida, I know it will be a long road of trial and error – after all, most people locally have no idea what type of avocado tree they have growing in their yard. So, it is very difficult to discern if seeds from that tree can serve as a good grafting root base. Only a few of avocado trees locally are of a variety that can produce a seed which will sprout to life and then thrive in our Florida soil. For me, that year’s long research into which seeds from which trees will spark to life and thrive is just a fun exercise and stress relieving agricultural diversion. But when it comes down to something so important as my very life – the stakes are way too high. You see, I am not interested in a trial and error experiment for the moorings of my life. Friends, that is why I have hitched my life and my future growth to the one who is attested to as the foundational source vine described in John 15 – Jesus the Christ! Jesus is the vine and we are branches!

I invite you to offer a prayer of thanksgiving right now to God – who not only created us but nourishes usthrough Christ and enables us to grow and bear fruit.

Blessings,

Your Pastor,

Scott <><