Key Scripture:
John 15:5a. “I am the vine, you are the branches. …
–NKJ
Key Idea:
… the lesson, simple as it appears, it is the key of the abiding life–that the only way to obey the command, “Abide in me,” is to have eye and heart fixed upon Himself.
–Murray
Pray for revelation:
“I am God’s Vine,” Jesus says; “all I am I have from Him; all I am is for you; God will work it in you.” I am the Vine. Blessed Lord, speak Thou that word into my soul. Then shall I know that all Thy fullness is for me. And that I can count upon Thee to stream it into me, and that my abiding is so easy and so sure when I forget and lose myself in the adoring faith that the Vine holds the branch and supplies its every need.
— Murray
Key words:
Vine,
Branches.
This is simply restating the concept of Jesus as the vine. It is about priorities. As tempting as it is to see our abundant fruit and take the credit for it, it is only due to our constant abiding with Jesus. We can do nothing unless it is through him.
it doesn’t even matter where you stand in the big picture of worldly wealth, or importance. It doesn’t matter if you have a good job, or not, or even none at all. It doesn’t matter if you’re young or old, or live in a big house, small house, or no house. When we stay connected to Jesus, we can grow spiritually in that place. We may not be happy in our circumstance, but joy can be found in staying attached to the vine.
As we grow in our religious activities, and grow bigger and bigger, we produce fruit, but those religious excersizes also cause us to become more woody. Remember that the wood, even productive wood must be cut back at some point. So, let Jesus work through you. Let the growth come. Use religious activity to put on some wood, because God will know how to keep you pruned back and humble. Just keep your place in the vine. As God works through the vine, let it work through you.
Stay attached, and discover the joy that can only come to our spirits from the vine. It won’t matter what the world hands our way to know that we are part of something bigger.