He Is The Vine

Good Morning,

John 15:1-8 (NIV)
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. (Emphasis Mine, DRB)

I think that too often we lose sight of what Jesus tells us in these verses. We forget the fact that without abiding in Him and He in us, we really cannot do anything of worth. The unfortunate thing about this is that we, at least many of us, just do not remember that it is only in and through Him that we do God's will and our part in accomplishing His purposes on this earth.

We get all caught up in the "I can do it!" sort of syndrome and go charging off to do this ministry or that without first consulting with the boss...God! Now, much of this is the fault of the way we've been brought up and educated by the world. Our educational system and our ideas of success have been drilled into us with those maxims like, "If it's to be, it's up to me!" and many others of the same ilk. This, of course, simply because the world doesn't recognize that almost anything of true value to ourselves and others comes from the Lord...from His guidance and direction.

It would serve us all well if we would more often remember these verses that we read today; if we will remember that Jesus told us, "Apart from me you can do nothing," at least nothing that truly amounts to much.

On our own and in our own power we will accomplish only very little, and probably not much of consequence. With Jesus and the Holy Spirit to guide and direct us, being in us, we can do anything...there is no limit.

Let's not forget that, okay?

Love, peace, and blessings,

David