Over the past few months I have been spending much time in the writings of Rev. Andrew Murray (1828-1917). AM (as I fondly refer to him) was a Dutch Reformed minister in South Africa who wrote over 240 books—most of which are now freely available in PDF from reputable sites on the internet. He was schooled, trained and ordained in England after which he returned to his beloved South Africa to continue his ministry. His writings are profoundly deep and cause one to reflect on concepts that tend to not be written or spoken about in this day and age and yet they are invaluable in one’s pursuit of becoming more like Christ.

In this series of daily blogs I focus on the book The True Vine based on the scripture John 15:1-16. His book is in the format of meditations for one month, however I have found that it takes much longer to do justice to reflecting on his deep content—so who knows how long it will take us to explore this passage?!

I invite you to join me in meditating on the writings of Andrew Murray. I have immersed myself in them over several decades and still have not plumbed their depths! May we all be blessed in our explorations and may we all increasingly grow in the likeness of Christ—the True Vine.

John 15:1 (NRSV)  “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine-grower.

John 15:4–5 (NRSV) Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.