FRUIT BEARER

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. John 15: 5, NKJV

The image of a branch gaining all its sustenance and strength from the vine is a beautiful description of our total dependence upon God, without whom we can do nothing, for in Him we live and move and have our being. When Jesus walked the earth, He demonstrated this truth, for He lived His entire life in utter dependence upon the Father. "I can do nothing of Myself," He said. "I speak only that which I have seen from My Father." Though Jesus Christ was fully God, He lived His life in His humanity.

Jesus lived as God intended man to live, in utter dependence upon God. Christ walked in Spirit and truth and only said and did those things that He heard from the Father. He demonstrated how we should live. He lived His life so the life of God could be lived through Him in His humanity. Although Jesus Christ was fully God, He drew all His strength from His Father in heaven, demonstrating how you and I should live as God's children, drawing all our strength from Jesus for without Him we can do nothing.

We are to walk in Spirit and truth and to do only those things that we hear from Christ our Savior, so that His life may be lived in us and through us. Until we humbly confess that in and of ourselves, we can do nothing. We will foolishly and unsuccessfully attempt to produce good fruit in our own strength.

Let us meditate on the vital principle that Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. We are to abide in Him and allow His Spirit to live through us, just as He abode in the Father and did only those things that He heard from the Father. For apart from Him, we can do nothing!!!

Father, thank You for this day and sustenance we get from abiding in Jesus. Lord, pour out Your abundant blessings over us and our family today. Lord, teach us to live as You would have us to live in total dependence upon You. Lord, increase our desire to seek You, know You, and remain close to You. Lord, help us to be faithful and not give up when we are tired and weary. Lord, help us to endure Your pruning with grace and strength. Lord, help us to stay fully connected to You, the true vine, and receive all that You are and all that You desire for us. Lord, fashion Your character in us and use us today to bless others.

Father, we love You. Amen !