August 26, 2020
"I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing." (John 15:5)
We are born into this world separated from Christ. This is because of the fall of man through the choice of our First Parents. Starting in this position, the only resource we have is ourselves. We may rely on some other people, but in the end every decision, every activity, every step is comprised of our own choices made in our own power.
THE TRAGIC RESULTS
In this sad, depraved state, all we receive (and all the world gets) from our best efforts is nothing compared to the glory we were intended to enjoy. We were made to be conduits of the love, wisdom, grace, and power of God. Instead, even our best efforts are "filthy rags" in God's economy. We may look good to others. We can try to dress up those rags, but they are rags, nonetheless.
Jesus emphasizes what is possible in our mere humanity with one telling phrase: "apart from Me you can do nothing."
We don't believe this of course. The Great Liar whispers in our ear that we can do it on our own. We try and fail and then he whispers that we are worthless. He puffs us up in pride with one voice and condemns and accuses with the other, pushing from one ditch to the other like a rag doll. All the while, without Christ, we are working hard and producing nothing.
THE GREAT TRUTH
But Jesus is pure truth. The Perfect Husbandman speaks the following to us (if we will listen) and it is absolute reality.
"I am the Vine."
He is the source of life. The fountain from which everything we need springs. He often refers to Himself as simply “I am.” And Hebrews says that faith is believing that “He is” (Hebrews 11:6). He is what? He is everything! Life, power, wisdom, truth, understanding, and on and on.
"You are the branches."
Think of it as you view a tree outside your window right now. The branch, if cut off, withers and dies. But as it remains (abides) in the vine it receives all its life, nutrients, and power from the vine. The branch is merely the conduit through which vine-life flows. And the vine gives the branch the happy privilege of bearing the fruit that the vine itself is producing through the branch.
The branch can nothing—absolutely, positively nothing—apart from the vine.
THE MOST IMPORTANT ADMISSION
This one sentence explains everything about us, about Christ, and about true Christianity. We can try to live without being joined to Christ and we will live and die and produce zero fruit that matters and lasts. Or, by God's grace we can be grafted into Jesus Christ through salvation, recognize our place and purpose, rest and cooperate with Him, and we will bear much fruit.
Our job is to remember who He is, who we are, and understand the difference. And then live every common day looking to and relying on the One who is all in all.
But it begins with this humble admission: apart from Jesus I can do nothing. Repeat that out loud a few times. Pause and think deeply about that word that describes the sum of your life without Christ’s empowerment: nothing. And when you have grasped this great reality and begin to live in its light you have taken the first step to the fruitful life.
Father, thank You for Your Son, Jesus Christ who came to provide a way for me to be reconnected to You. Thank You for the Spirit who, through faith, has come to live in me forever. Thank You that I am in You and You in me. Give me the grace today to let You lead—to realize my total inability to produce anything apart from You and my abundant fruitfulness when abiding in and obeying You! What a joy! What a life eternally!
January 23, 2025
We are sheep, pure and simple. We are wayward and foolish at every turn. But as we humbly come to the end of ourselves and gladly surrender to the Shepherd’s care, we begin to know the level of care and leadership we were designed to enjoy.
January 22, 2025
When you enter freely into the throne room because Christ has “given us an introduction by faith into this grace in which we now stand” (Romans 5:2) … never forget the price paid for your freedom and salvation.
Stand in awe of Him … and stand humbly.
January 21, 2025
We must cooperate with God in ways that make it so. We should be careful that it is nothing less … that we are creating an environment where people are encountering God and communing with Him. A place alive with His presence.
