The
Vine existed long before the branches ever grew, and He sacrificially shared
His love and life with us (1 John 4:19).
Separated
from the Vine, we can do nothing (John 15:5); so we choose to fully commit to
our abiding union with the Vine (John 15:16).
As
God's Spirit conforms us to the image of Christ, we abide in His abundant love
forever. We keep His commandments and love our friends, relatives, associates
and neighbors with the love of the Lord (Matthew 22:37-39; John 15:10; 2
Timothy 3:2; Romans 1:30).
The
evidence of our union with the Vine (John 15:13) is our obedience to Him as He
gradually renews our heart and replaces in us our negative habits and
personality issues with the fruit of God's Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).
We
rest in His grace and renew our strength as we wait on Him (Isaiah 40:31). His
Spirit directs us each moment of the day (John 16:13). We increase God's
Kingdom by our obedience to Him and His Word (Mark 4:26).
Our
Father God is the dresser of the vines. He prunes the branches of all dead
limbs in order to improve fruitfulness (John 15:1-6). The fruit that we are
called to bear come from God's Spirit and depend on our relationship with our
Vine (Galatians 5:22-23).
Our
connection to the Vine includes our association with, dependence on and
endurance through Christ in us. We come to associate with Christ through
salvation, we learn to depend on Him rather than on our human resources, and we
stand forever through His eternal life in us (1 Thessalonians 5:24).
Without
connection, there is no salvation; without dependence there is no power, life,
supply, competence, etc.; without endurance, there is no everlasting union with
the presence of God's Word - the person of Jesus Christ, who abides within us
(John 8:31-32).
Prayer:
Father
God, Your fruit in our life is proof of our faith in You (James 2:14-26). We
abide in You, but You also abide in us, completing the sanctifying work of
holiness, which You started in us at salvation (Philippians 1:6, 2:12-13). Let
us never break our connection with Your Vine.
The
life we receive through Your presence in our spirit is not paralleled by
anything this world has to offer. Help us to exhibit affection for others, an
exuberance about life, serenity through the storms, determination and patience,
a compassionate heart, and kindness that pervades our entire being (Galatians
5:22-23).
Thought
for the Day:
We
trust that God has this world in His control, and that He has a perfect
timetable for its culmination and the renewal of all things; therefore, we
commit to live humbly in service to Him and to others, as His Spirit
continually guides us through each moment of our life.
-
Daniel 4:17; Ephesians 1:11; Romans 10:4
