The best wine

Today I happened to chat with one of my old college mate and somehow in response to his question I shared with him one of the lessons God taught me sometimes ago. I have been wanting to share the lessons with you as well, but as usual the energy took control. But I think today, after having a nice lunch, I want to gather my remaining energy to write down this wonderful lesson which I've just shared. Hope this lesson can help you in your journey with the Lord :)

"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser." ~ John 15:1

Thus the beginning of the passage regarding Jesus as the True Vine. So many times we read about this passage and meditate about the role of Jesus as the True Vine and we as His branches. Well, today, I would like to take our focus to Our Heavenly Father. But this post won't focus on Father's work on pruning the branches so that we may bear more fruit. But it's more down to the Father's aim as a vine dresser and our circumstances.

I learnt this lesson when I was watching a TV series (yupe, God can even speak to you when you are watching :D). In one of the scene, a wine expert explained that in order to create the best wine, the top tier grapes needed to be planted in such a harsh condition. Conditions such as sand, gravels, and small rocks environment, under an intense sunlight. Under such dry condition, the grape will work harder to maintain the moist, thus create an intense taste for the grape. On the other hand, if the condition is too good for the grape, it would be focusing on the leaves and stems, rather on the fruit. So good condition may not bring a good fruit at all. In short, the worst soil yields the best wine.

Now we know that Jesus is the True Vine, the best vine ever. And Our Heavenly Father is the vine dresser, who aim for the fruit. And He is not only interested in the quantity of the fruits produced, but the quality as well.

And that bring us to the first lesson today. Ever found yourself in a "harsh & dry condition"? Wondering how it will ever help you in growing? You see, a vine dresser not only has a good intention, He has to be involved in cultivating the grapes so that it can bring good yield. Not only He knows the grapes well, He also knows the best condition to help the grapes produce its yield. And He wants the best wine after all. That's why He planted such best vine in such harsh condition.

Given such truth, let us remind ourselves that when we found ourselves planted in the dry environment, God's intention is always to bring the best in us. To produce the 'intense flavor' which only the best wine in the world can have. It's not comfortable, and certainly nobody wants to find themselves in such harsh condition. However, it's the only way to create the best wine. (besides the best vine of course:D)

On a personal note, currently I found myself in a situation which I don't want. Not only harsh and dry, I am also helpless. But knowing the growth is coming from the vine, all I need to do is to abide in Him. It's Jesus who bring forth the fruit, not us the branches. This truth bring us to the second lesson.

More often than not, we thought that abide in Jesus would bring us to better place. You know, when the skies are blue, the gate of heaven open and blessings pour down upon us. But from the lesson today I learnt that in order to produce the best wine, the vine dresser will plant the vine in the harsh condition. And when we, as His branches, stick to the Vine, we will somehow found ourselves in the same condition. Yeah, that same harsh and dry condition.

When we found ourselves in such condition, we can find enormous reasons that caused us to be in such position in the first place. Not to say those are not valid reasons. But even though those are all valid reasons, I still believe God who is in control will allow even worst thing to happen for a reason. So the second lesson taught me to never ever forget that once we are committed to follow Him, to abide in Him, the journey has to bring us to such condition. God is in control after all and He is indeed exercising His control. Sometimes it's not even the pruning act that He is doing. He simply put the vine in the 'best' condition to grow. For us, it's the worst condition, because all we could think of are our leaves and stems which are not growing a lot. But for Him, His aim is the best fruits.

Are you on your way to yield the best wine?

Father, my vine dresser, thank You for teaching me this lesson and reminded me again today. I know You are in control, even when the situation seemed out of control. Give me strength to abide in Jesus always. And help me to remember always that through this harsh condition, what You aim is to produce the best wine. Help me to yield to Your will, so my yield eventually would be what You want in the first place. In Jesus' mighty name I pray, Amen.