Oh that blessed Divine vine!

Are you connected?

Jesus said,
"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples."
John 15:4-8

I love gardening! It fascinates me to watch a tiny seed be placed in the soil and over time, after watering and weeding a plant grows and produces food! In essence, its amazing watching life happen!

As we are at the end of growing season and it's time to harvest, I've watched several of our vines grow, flourish and some wither! Those that shriveled and withered away are the ones that were stepped on or crushed. Once its cut off from the main part, it dies.

Now, looking at the in line with the words Jesus spoke here, if we aren't in Him and He in us, we have no true life source! Apart from Him, we can do nothing. In fact, we do just as these plants do and shrivel up!

Look at how the Strong's Concordance breaks this down.
μένω ménō, men'-o; a primary verb; to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy):—abide, continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand, tarry

(https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?t=kjv&strongs=g3306)

That's pretty cool! Is it any wonder why we were fruitless apart from the life source?

May we consider this warning and heed wisely.

"Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son." 2 John 1:9

Consider your walk with Christ. How blessed we are to abide in that divine vine! Are you staying connected in Him or growing dry, dreary and crusty? Is your life producing fruit or have you become fruitless? 

True vs False "Service & Missions"

Thinking about today's emphasis on "missions & service"... how many go to another country to be changed!

I heard a "testimony" of an undevoted man who went with his church. He said, "ya know, I don't pray everyday, but I tell ya, if you go on a missions trip, it will change you."

OK, aren't we to take the Gospel (unedited true Gospel) making true disciples as Jesus commanded? Can we truly be dedicated to Christ and His call yet not commune with Him regularly? Doesn't the Gospel itself by the Holy Spirit's power change and transform us? My heart is still grieved over this testimony and the countless others that are just like it. We follow Christ at a high cost, the cost of denying ourselves and carrying our cross daily. Where is the "self gain" Jesus promised? THERE IS NONE! We can't honestly serve Christ and fulfill His great commission without His leading, guiding and Holy Spirit.  If we aren't His disciple, can we make true disciples apart from Him?

Jesus said, "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." John 15:5

How dare we "serve" Him with self interest at heart! Is not this life and its purpose all for His glory and gain? True missions is a beautiful and glorious thing. Though I haven't been to a 3rd world country, I have been placed here and now, "for such a time as this" in a mission field of my family, friends, neighbors, my community.

Let us 1st be transformed and understand the cost of that high calling in Christ Jesus that we too may be used for His Kingdom and glory according to His Will and purpose!