Growing or Dying

When a basil plant, which has delicious leaves, starts to produce flowers, bees and other pollinators cause the flowers to produce seeds. When the flower has done that, the plant starts to die. The plant thinks that its purpose is to reproduce, so when it has built the engine that can accomplish that – the seeds – it thinks its job is over, and dries up and dies, so that the seeds can take the next step. That next step is several more basil plants.

If I own a basil plant, I am growing it for leaves. In order to make it successful at the mission I am giving it, I must protect it from its natural mission, which is dying and multiplying itself. I prune it to make it successful. When a flower appears, I cut it off. No flower means no seeds, which means no death. Pruning it keeps it alive, even though it seems harsh or destructive.

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vineyard keeper. Every branch in Me that does not produce fruit He removes, and He prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, son either can you unless you remain in Me.

I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be My disciples.

As the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you. Remain in My love. If you keep My commands you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commands and remain in His love.

“I have spoken these things to you so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. This is My command: love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you slaves anymore, because a slave doesn’t know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from My Father. You did not choose Me, but I chose you. I appointed you that you should go out and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you. This is what I command you: love one another.

(John 15:1-17 Holman Christian Standard Bible ©®)