November 07, 2012
Remain! Remain! Remain!
John 15:4 - "Remain in me and I will remain in you." Jesus is the vine; God is the gardener; we are the branches. It is
We must understand this! The branch cannot exist without the vine; it will wither and die; be thrown into the fire; and burned. It cannot produce fruit without the vine. It must remain with the vine. To produce fruit, to produce much fruit, the gardener (God) must trim away the dead or anything that hinders the production of fruit. The pruning process makes the branch thrive and the branch produces even more fruit—fruit that lasts.
The branch doesn't decide what to change—the gardener decides. It is our responsibility to remain. Remain connected to the vine. Remain committed to the vine. Remain in submission to the vine. Remain in the flow of life and love from the vine. Remain dependent upon the vine. To remain means to submit yourself to the authority of the vine and gardener. To truly understand the
God's Will
Remain! Remain! Remain!
John 15:4 - "Remain in me and I will remain in you." Jesus is the vine; God is the gardener; we are the branches. It is
God
↓
Man
It is not God = Man or
Man
↓
God.
We must understand this! The branch cannot exist without the vine; it will wither and die; be thrown into the fire; and burned. It cannot produce fruit without the vine. It must remain with the vine. To produce fruit, to produce much fruit, the gardener (God) must trim away the dead or anything that hinders the production of fruit. The pruning process makes the branch thrive and the branch produces even more fruit—fruit that lasts.
The branch doesn't decide what to change—the gardener decides. It is our responsibility to remain. Remain connected to the vine. Remain committed to the vine. Remain in submission to the vine. Remain in the flow of life and love from the vine. Remain dependent upon the vine. To remain means to submit yourself to the authority of the vine and gardener. To truly understand the
God's Will
↓
Man
relationship. John 15:7 - "If you remain in me and follow my teachings, you can ask anything you want, and it will be given to you." There are some who read a verse like this and selfishly think it means they can use God like a puppet or benefactor so they can ask for anything they want and they can get it, as if God is their own personal servant. But look at it more closely. "If you remain in me and follow my teachings..."if you do those things, then your will and God's will, will be aligned and your heart will desire what His heart desires. John 15:16 - "Go and produce fruit, fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you anything you ask for in my name." IF—THEN.
One of the fruits we are to produce is LOVE. John 15:12 - "This is my command: Love each other as I have loved you." John 15:17 - "This is my command: Love each other." Pretty clear and straight forward. Those commands leave no room for anger, revenge, greed, deceit, force, control, or selfish desires. Those actions absolutely remove you from the vine and the ability to produce fruit. The fruit God wants is: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. This is what God wants. The only way to achieve those fruits is to remain. Remain in the vine. Welcome the pruning of the gardener. The producing of fruit is worth it all.
One of the fruits we are to produce is LOVE. John 15:12 - "This is my command: Love each other as I have loved you." John 15:17 - "This is my command: Love each other." Pretty clear and straight forward. Those commands leave no room for anger, revenge, greed, deceit, force, control, or selfish desires. Those actions absolutely remove you from the vine and the ability to produce fruit. The fruit God wants is: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. This is what God wants. The only way to achieve those fruits is to remain. Remain in the vine. Welcome the pruning of the gardener. The producing of fruit is worth it all.
Remaining in Him does not mean a trouble free life. The world hated Jesus and the people of the world may hate you. But, we are not alone because we are part of the vine. John 14:16–17 - "I will send you the Helper... he is the Spirit of Truth." People who hate you may try to destroy you, but they cannot be successful. They cannot separate you from the vine. The gardener's pruning is what makes you strong. It's makes you understand that life is not about you—it is about Him. Jesus tells us what we do for the "least of these" is what we do for Him. The reverse of that is true as well. When someone does something to try and stop us or destroy us, their actions are actually against Christ because we are part of the vine. They may try to stop the production of fruit, but it isn't just the branch they are attacking, they are attacking the vine. It isn't our fight. It's God's. So let Him handle it. Leave it in His hands.
We have one responsibility—Remain! Accept the pruning. Produce MUCH fruit.
Addendum: 7/4/2018 ~ As I was reading this post this morning the words of John 15:16 stuck out to me. "And I gave you this work: to go and produce fruit, fruit that will last." Fruit that will last. This has new meaning to me. It is the only thing that is important and truly lasts.
We've all heard the saying that you "never see a U-Haul behind a hearse," meaning you can't take your earthly possessions with you when you die. But it is so much more than that. In the months before my father-in-law's death, he lost all of his cognitive skills. It was a very sad thing to watch. In life, he was a very prideful man. He was proud of his business, his awards, his trips and vacations, his accomplishments, etc. But now, at the end of his life, he lost all memory of the things he was so proud of. He forgot he had taken those trips, he forgot about his awards and accomplishments, he forgot about the business he started, and in the most part, he forgot about his family. It was all gone. And then it hit me. It isn't just your possessions you don't take with you. You don't take your goals and accomplishments, your awards, the things you take pride in—you don't take anything earthly with you.
The only thing that matters is "fruit that will last," the things you have done that brings Honor and Glory to God.
Who did you lead to Christ? Who did you help in His name? Who did you encourage in their walk with Christ? What have you done that holds Kingdom value? Because if your life accomplishments don't hold Kingdom value, if it isn't "fruit that lasts," then it really doesn't matter.
The poem by C.T. Studd says it all.
Next Entry: John 16:4b–33
We have one responsibility—Remain! Accept the pruning. Produce MUCH fruit.
Addendum: 7/4/2018 ~ As I was reading this post this morning the words of John 15:16 stuck out to me. "And I gave you this work: to go and produce fruit, fruit that will last." Fruit that will last. This has new meaning to me. It is the only thing that is important and truly lasts.
We've all heard the saying that you "never see a U-Haul behind a hearse," meaning you can't take your earthly possessions with you when you die. But it is so much more than that. In the months before my father-in-law's death, he lost all of his cognitive skills. It was a very sad thing to watch. In life, he was a very prideful man. He was proud of his business, his awards, his trips and vacations, his accomplishments, etc. But now, at the end of his life, he lost all memory of the things he was so proud of. He forgot he had taken those trips, he forgot about his awards and accomplishments, he forgot about the business he started, and in the most part, he forgot about his family. It was all gone. And then it hit me. It isn't just your possessions you don't take with you. You don't take your goals and accomplishments, your awards, the things you take pride in—you don't take anything earthly with you.
The only thing that matters is "fruit that will last," the things you have done that brings Honor and Glory to God.
Who did you lead to Christ? Who did you help in His name? Who did you encourage in their walk with Christ? What have you done that holds Kingdom value? Because if your life accomplishments don't hold Kingdom value, if it isn't "fruit that lasts," then it really doesn't matter.
The poem by C.T. Studd says it all.
Only One Life
Two little lines I heard one day,
Traveling along life's busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart,
And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
Only what's done for Christ will last.
Only one life, yest only one,
Soon with its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in 'that day' my Lord to meet,
And stand before His Judgment seat;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
Only what's done for Christ will last.
Only one life, the still small voice,
Gently pleads for a better choice,
Bidding me selfish aims to leave,
And to God's holy will to cleave;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
Only what's done for Christ will last.
Only one life, a few brief years,
Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its clays I must fulfill,
Living for self or in His will;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
Only what's done for Christ will last.
When this bright world would tempt me sore,
When Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way,
Then help me Lord with joy to say;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
Only what's done for Christ will last.
Give me Father, a purpose deep,
In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e'er the strife,
Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
Only what's done for Christ will last.
Oh, let my love with fervor burn,
And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone,
Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
Only what's done for Christ will last.
Only one life, yes only one,
Now let me say, "Thy will be done";
And when at last I'll hear the call,
I know I'll say "twas worth it all";
Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
Only what's done for Christ will last.
Next Entry: John 16:4b–33
No comments:
Post a Comment