Read John 15:4-10
Abide in me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. (John 15:4)
Have you ever watched a vine-growing plant, (tomatoes, grapes come to my mind}? They get their nourishment from the stalk of the plants, not from the individual branches, (their purpose is to help get food to the fruit,) Once the fruit is separated from the stalk or the vine, it begins a process of drying out and eventually dying.
I am the vine; you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit, for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered and they gather them and throw them into the fire and are burned. (John 15:5-6)
In these verses, Jesus contrasts the outcome of His children living for Him or not living for Him. Jesus very plainly states the without Him, we can do nothing.
If you abide in me and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, so you will be My disciples.
(John 15:7-8)
Jesus answers the requests of His children. Sometimes, it may take awhile or maybe not in the way we ask, but His answer will come. There are times that I have been put through the traces in order for me to see Jesus at work on certain circumstances that could affect my life.
As the Father has loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My father’s commandments, you will abide in My Father’s love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. (John 15:9-10)
Jesus states something here that each of us should remember. His love for us is exactly like His Father’s love for Him. Jesus further tells us that when we keep the Father’s commandments, we live in and honor the Father’s love.
When we live in God’s way and, thereby honor Him, other people see how we behave and react to events in our lives.
Apart from Christ, I can do nothing...nothing good, that is. I could do lots of bad things, but that would not be good! Because of Calvary and what Jesus did for us on the cross, we have overcome sin and death, and we can do good things as we abide in Him and He abides in us. Praise God for the Cross of Christ!!
ReplyDeletePam: I am reminded that Jesus did overcome sin and spiritual death. That was God's plan for His Son. We are to be thankful that Jesus told the Father, "Not My will but Thine be done." Otherwise, we would not be able to see God. Be blessed and Happy Easter to you and yours.
DeleteAside from being in Jesus, the true vine, it is impossible for us to bear any fruit in our lives, Cecelia. May we rejoice in being grafted to the Father through Jesus' love. Blessings always!
ReplyDeleteMartha Jane: You are so right. We are to depend on Jesus for all we do-in our personal lives and in our churches. God is the One who holds all things in His hands. Be Blessed and Happy Easter.
DeleteI often thought about that Cecelia... 'Without Me you can do nothing.' Well, people think they do things in their own power, but if it wasn't for the breath in our lungs, we wouldn't even be alive.
ReplyDeleteMarja: Thank you for your kind words. God guides us to do the things He wants us to do for Him and for His kingdom. Happy Easter to you and yours.
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