The Grape-Vine

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Feb 23, 1905

OF all the fruit-trees of the garden when stripped of their leaves, the grape-vine is the most unpromising, with its slender, gaunt, dry-looking stem and rugged bark. It must have been at this season when the prophet said of it: “Shall wood be taken thereof to do any work? or will men take a pin of it to hang any vessel thereon? Behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel; the fire devoureth both the ends of it, and the midst of it is burned. Is it meet for any work?” See Eze. 15:1-7, and learn the lesson, which is to be repeated. Rev. 14:18, 19.

But when we look at the grape-vines putting forth graceful branches covered with leaves and tender blossoms, we wonder and admire this manifestation of life in that which seems so dry and dead, and think of the words: “Take us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.” Cant. 2:15. It was the much pruning that led to abundant fruitage, as promised by our Lord Jesus when speaking of himself as “the true vine,” and his Father as the husbandman (John 15:1-8), and the necessity of abiding in him, the true vine, for life and power to bring forth the good fruit of the Holy Spirit, that many through us might be taught the way of life.

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.”—Selected.