Jesus is Essential
John 15:5: I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
Along with this realization we are to consciously, deliberately depend upon Christ. I am not gifted with musical ability. But suppose I sneak into my church’s sanctuary on my day off, when nobody is around, and try to play some chords on the piano. Without my knowing it, the great Van Cliburn enters the narthex. The poor man is in pain from my “music,” so he walks to the front and says to me, “I would like to help you. I have a power no one else knows about—I can transmit my ability to another person. All you have to do is to look at me and watch me intently.”
I suddenly get a great idea! I make sure that the next Sunday night all of my church’s regular church pianists are away. Van Cliburn is there, but he declines to play. So I humbly sit at the piano, and as long as I look at Van Cliburn, my fingers really fly over those ivories. Nobody has ever played like that at College Church in Wheaton, Illinois! I start feeling pretty good, so I begin looking at the people, enjoying their admiration for my musical prowess. And my ability is suddenly gone! Often we make the same mistake. We fail to keep our eyes on Jesus and to depend on him, to abide in him. Those who learn to abide stay put for the pruning. We must choose to abide, to get into the Word. 1
Walking with Jesus
The fact is this: trusting Jesus is the only way we can bear lasting fruit. Knowing this, why would anyone want to be personally ambitious without seeking daily council from His Word? It is very easy to get caught up with our own plans and pursuits. Knowing this, what can you do with greater purpose to keep your dependency upon the Vine?
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13
To be unattached from Jesus is to destined for a drought.
Praying
Lord, thank You for being the only reason why I am able to bear any fruit.
1. Hughes, R. K. (1999). John: that you may believe. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.
