Isaiah 5:1-7 provides the background to John 15. Israel failed to produce good fruit as God's vineyard, and God laid them low in the Babylonian Captivity in 587 BC. IN many ways, they never recovered.

Psalm 146 describes the fruit God is looking for from his people: justice, mercy, and right-relationships!

In John 15, Jesus instructs his disciples about staying close to him" I am the vine, and you are the branches." Apart from Jesus, we can do NOTHING! As we remain in him, we can do all that he asks and all that will give us great joy! He elevates us from servants to friends and he commands us to produce "fruit that will last."

The clearest way to do this is to invest in relationships--in our families, in our congregation, and in our spheres of influence. Let's bring glory to the Father in all that we do!