Was reading John 15 tonight and here is a bit of what God has shown me!
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit."
I am a branch clinging onto Jesus and its hard!! I feel like I am getting pulled in every direction, feel like things are trying to grab at me, to disconnect me from the vine to make me vulnerable trying to con me into letting go. They do their best to make me the kind of branch that doesn't bear fruit, the kind of branch that doesn't commit to the vine, doesn't get all that it needs from the vine. But I'm connected, And as I bear fruit the gardener prunes me, sometimes it hurts, sometimes it feels like the pruning is too painful to bear, but it is needed, it is for my good, it is so I learn, I grow, I beaf more fruit and give glory to the vine!
"Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."
I am nothing without the vine, without the vine I'm a dead branch, bearing nothing, not even bad fruit, I'm dead and lifeless. My dependence is 100% on the vine, on Jesus! As I struggle here trying to do things on my own, without the vine giving me nutrients and sustenance I fail each and every time!!
"If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned."
Reality hits!! The scary truth!! If I don't dig into the vine more, if I give into the things that are pulling me away from the vine, I won't bear fruit and I'll be cut off and thrown away, more than that I'll be burned. So what is it? Where do I stand? Do I give into the ways of this world? Do I throw in the towel or do I stand and fight with everything I have within me? The choice is mine and the consequences are huge. I cling to the vine standing empty handed and completely surrendered!!
"It you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love."
What promises!! What great truths!! As I abide in Him as I stay connected, getting all that I need from Him to bear fruit He is glorified. He loves me, and that is where I am meant to rest, where I can find peace. As I keep His commands as I continue to be His disciple and bear fruit I find rest in His love!!
"These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
A picture of a joy that is overflowing, that isn't dependent on the circumstances surrounding it but it is a joy that never ends, it has no limits. And where I stand right now where life is knocking at my door trying to tear that joy away, I stay connected to the vine and that joy is given to me freely!
"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you."
A challenge for me, for us all! To love like He did does not come naturally. Yet being connected to Him, He gives us the strength to do so! That blows my mind, He showed us that love, that sacrificial love, but then doesn't leave it there, He gives us what we need to show that love to those around us! As a branch I get all
I need from the vine, including the capacity to love in all things. I have been pulling away and how so quickly it comes clear that alone I can't love in that way, so I choose to cling to the vine!
"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. "
Nothing I have done has connected me to the vine. The gift of grace given by Jesus has given me life, it is what He has done that has given me life! It is Him and Him alone that makes me able to bear fruit! He has given me all I need and promises me to continue to provide all I need. As a branch by myself I am lifeless, dead, worthless, nothing, but connected to a life giving vine I have all I need!
"These things I command you, so that you will love one another. "
John 15:1-17 ESV
I feel like my thoughts may be all over but as God has revealed so much to me through this passage I pray He does the same for you!
Love
