Losing Connection
“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and He prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.” - John 15:1-2
I think you will probably agree with me that perhaps the worst experience you can have when using your cell phone, streaming a movie, having a meeting on Zoom, or conducting any kind of business online is losing the connection.
We are so dependent and reliant upon technology that it has become critically important to maintain an optimal digital connection to ensure a great experience and to transact our business.
When we don’t, the experience is interrupted. You’ve been there. Things start glitching, the screen starts buffering and freezing, and worst of all, your device can flat-out crash. And so, software makers, phone and computer companies, and users alike are highly invested in doing what it takes to make sure we have a good connection.
In a real sense, that is what Jesus is saying in John 15. He uses an agricultural analogy because at that time their lives depended upon vines. One researcher says that in Israel, vines were everywhere. Whether it was for olives or grapes, their lives, their health, and their economy depended upon having strong vines.
And so, those who heard these words understood their importance for a productive life and a thriving society in a very real way. What Jesus used as an example of “the vine” could be substituted with technology in our day and age. Our “digital connection,” which is so crucial to every aspect of our lives, would be the comparison.
What Jesus is referencing is our need for Him. Do you look at God with the same need that you have for Wi-Fi or 5G? In some cases, we will schedule where we need to be and when we need to be there, to make sure we have the right tech setup we are going to need. Do we do the same when scheduling our time with God?
The “need” you have for a digital connection is the same as your need for God to live the life God intends for you to live. The quicker we look at God with the same need, the quicker our life begins to take shape as all it is meant to be.
I think you will probably agree with me that perhaps the worst experience you can have when using your cell phone, streaming a movie, having a meeting on Zoom, or conducting any kind of business online is losing the connection.
We are so dependent and reliant upon technology that it has become critically important to maintain an optimal digital connection to ensure a great experience and to transact our business.
When we don’t, the experience is interrupted. You’ve been there. Things start glitching, the screen starts buffering and freezing, and worst of all, your device can flat-out crash. And so, software makers, phone and computer companies, and users alike are highly invested in doing what it takes to make sure we have a good connection.
In a real sense, that is what Jesus is saying in John 15. He uses an agricultural analogy because at that time their lives depended upon vines. One researcher says that in Israel, vines were everywhere. Whether it was for olives or grapes, their lives, their health, and their economy depended upon having strong vines.
And so, those who heard these words understood their importance for a productive life and a thriving society in a very real way. What Jesus used as an example of “the vine” could be substituted with technology in our day and age. Our “digital connection,” which is so crucial to every aspect of our lives, would be the comparison.
What Jesus is referencing is our need for Him. Do you look at God with the same need that you have for Wi-Fi or 5G? In some cases, we will schedule where we need to be and when we need to be there, to make sure we have the right tech setup we are going to need. Do we do the same when scheduling our time with God?
The “need” you have for a digital connection is the same as your need for God to live the life God intends for you to live. The quicker we look at God with the same need, the quicker our life begins to take shape as all it is meant to be.
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