Jesus gave us the analogy of the vine.  When we believe Jesus is the Son of God we are joined to God by the Vine, Jesus Christ.  When we are graphed into the Vine, Jesus, we receive His blood or sap that allow our branches to grow and produce fruit.  When a vine begins to grow it dangles to the ground and needs to be hoisted up into the sunlight.  It is suspended and rests on the trellis or arbor so that it will produce fruit.  It will not produce good fruit if the branch is laying in the grass or on the ground.  If a branch of the vine is dead, it is cut off.  Every winter the vines are cut back.  The base of the vine grows thick and strong for holding larger branches and more fruit.  We are much like the branches of the vine.  God will hoist us up and secure us to the trellis, so we produce fruit.  He cuts and prunes us, so we can produce more fruit.  If we die, He will cast us away. Photo by Sven Wilhelm on Unsplash.