New Wine from the True Vine

This week we continue our focus on how Jesus communicated the good news of the Gospel through everyday objects. This week's devotional is a creative retelling of our redemption through the wine of the True Vine, who is Jesus Christ. As you read, you will be invited to pause, meditate on Scripture and apply it to your life. We pray that as you engage God will grant you a fresh revelation of the sacredness, beauty and power of the wine of the True Vine, i.e. the blood of Jesus Christ. ​e

Part One

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There is a vine that stands tall and strong. Its sap is the Spirit of God and all its fruit are sweet. All its fruit is good for food. All of its fruit is pleasing. It is a generous tree. It is always in season. Its leaves never wither. It is the True Vine. It is the life of people. (Genesis 2: 8 - 9; John 15: 1 & 5 and; John 1: 1 - 4).

There is another vine. It is tall and strong in appearance. Its sap is the spirit of rebellion and all its fruit are bitter. All its fruit when eaten lead to death. It is a meager tree. It is brilliant in the day and withers soon after. It is not the True Vine. It brings death to all people. (Romans 6: 20  - 21 and James 1: 14 - 16).

There were people who lived on the True Vine. Their every need Its fruit satisfied. Yet, these were people who grew dissatisfied. They believed a lie and turned to find good things elsewhere. (Genesis 3).

The lie they believed cost them everything. And in a barren place they came to live, though dying, because they ate the bitter fruit of another vine. (Genesis 3).

The bitter fruit, bruised and fermenting within them, caused them and all their offspring to exhale disobedience. Their rising and setting and all their works demanded the Father's divine justice and promised His wrath. (Romans 5: 12 and  Romans 20 - 21). 

​Read:

1. Genesis 2: 8 - 10 - The Tree of Life and The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil
2. Genesis 3: 1 - 6 and Proverbs 14:12 - The Way that Seems Right to Man

Reflect and Apply:

1. How did it come to pass that we came to embrace what appeared good, but was not good; what appeared true, but was false ?
2. The world we live in today is populated by many voices. They each preach their own understanding of what is good and true. How do you proactively ensure that you are able to determine what is good and true?
3. ​Read Proverbs 3: 5 - 6 and Romans 12: 1 - 2. What instruction does it provide for sharpening your discernment and choosing rightly? Make a plan to apply the counsel of Scripture to your life using https://www.earthbasic.org/be-held-peace-of-mind/peace-of-mind-may-16-2019.
4. What is the consequence for embracing and feasting on that which is not good and true?
5. Death makes its appearance in ways that are not always obvious. Adam and Eve died, though their hearts kept beating. But, in them was no fruit of His Spirit-no true life. What parts of your life are brilliant for only a day, but then wither? What is not working? Ask the Lord to show you and then, by faith, surrender those places to Him.

Part Two

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Yet, love propelled Him to intervene. And the True Vine, carrier of the life of all people, agreed with the Father to enter the barren place as the God-man. (Genesis 3:15; John 1: 1 - 14; John 3:16 and 1 John 4:10).

Though in the barren place, the only sap that nourished Him was the Spirit of God and all His fruit remained sweet. In Him was the life and this life was the life of all people. And when He had come to maturity He was trampled on the cross. And from His body flowed a river red- His blood. And in it was life. In it was the life of all people. (2 Corinthians 5:21, Isaiah 53:5 and John 19: 33 - 34).

And right at the foot of the cross He prepared a meal: bread and wine. And to all, His eternal Spirit would invite to feast. And to all who drank this new wine came transformation: from certain death to eternal life; from isolation to relationship; from wrath to belovedness; from futility to divine purpose. (Luke 22: 14 - 20 and Romans 6 and Ephesians 5: 1 - 10).

And they would daily imbibe on this new wine from the God-Man. And daily they would grow like the God-Man: tall and strong; reliant on the Spirit of God; bearing sweet fruit; good for food and pleasing; generous; always in season, with leaves that never wither. And they would agree with the Father to walk the earth as God-Children-blessed to be broken and given for those hungry still. (Revelation 12: 11, Galatians 5: 22 - 23, Psalm 1 and 2 Corinthians 5: 18 - 21) ​​​​

Read:

1. Luke 22: 14 - 20 - The First Supper
2. 1 Corinthians 11: 23 - 26 - The Lord's Supper
3. Ephesians 1: 1 - 14 - Spiritual Blessing in Christ Jesus

Reflect and Apply:

1. How does the blood of Jesus, i.e. the new wine of the True Vine bless you?
2. How does the blood of Jesus, i.e the new wine of the True Vine change the course of  your future?
3. How does the blood of Jesus, i.e the new wine of the True Vine invite and empower you to show up now?
4. Why is it important that, though He lives and will return, we proclaim His death until His second coming? How can you do this in your everyday life? Join us in the Be-Held Book Community as we, explore practical ways to proclaim His death as we live abundantly, through the reading of Blessed Broken Given: How Your Story Becomes Sacred in the Hands of Jesus by Glenn Packiam.

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​Go Deeper

As Be-Held Women we believe that true self-care is accomplished in a lifestyle of intimacy with Jesus Christ. We take care by drawing near to God: seeking and living the truth of God’s Word, by the power of His Spirit dwelling within us, confident that in living the truth by Holy Spirit reliance we will be transformed into women who so clearly bear the image of Jesus Christ in spirit, soul and body that we will come to bless many.  Dear Be-Held Woman, seeking, living and being transformed by the truth, we offer you this Bible study guide to support you in your endeavors! Apply it to this week's Scripture readings.

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