Wednesdays in the Word

Hello Everyone!  I hope you have had a lovely day!  I had the honor of singing at the Community Holy Week services at First United Methodist Church here in my home town of Pell City, Alabama today.  What a lovely service that focused on the love that Jesus has for us and for His Father, God.  The amazing sacrifices that He made because of that love will never be matched by another.  We are so blessed that He was willing to endure all that He did so that we might share eternity with Him.  Thank You Jesus for that love!

I've decided to make Wednesdays our devotional day.  And the passage I'd like to share with you and expound on is John 15.  Jesus uses the illustration of a vine, it's branches and fruit to illustrate our relationship with Him and His with us.  I love how Jesus used common examples to help people understand -- it's kind of like giving directions.  I don't know about you, but I can find a destination using landmarks MUCH easier than if you just give me mile markers and street names.  I think that's why my favorite passages in the New Testament are those "red" words - - the words spoken by Jesus -- especially His parables. 

But in this passage, Jesus talks about staying connected to him.  He is the vine and we are the branches -- if we stay connected we will "bear much fruit".  What does that mean?  Well, if you consider any type of plant that bears fruit  -- a grape vine, a tomato vine, a canteloupe vine, etc -- the most tasty and beautiful fruit comes from the branch that is strongly attached to it's lifeline -- the vine.  Some fruit may still be attached to the vine but if it's branch is broken even slightly, it won't mature and grow as well and may even rot or die from disease, weather, wind or lack of nutrition and water. 

Hmmm....what happens in our lives when we aren't strongly attached to our vine (our lifeline - Jesus)?  We may think we're doing just fine -- we may look just fine -- but the growth stops -- and then we miss out on maturing into the fullness of our purpose that God created and intended for our lives.  Our lives aren't as rich and tasty when we sever ties with the vine - we lose sight of the big picture because we've opened up an opportunity for pests like stress, idols, materialism, self-centeredness to get into our "flesh" and literally inhibit our growth. And when the hard times come or the winds of change come we lose our focus, struggle in waiting for the outcome or become bitter when things just don't go our way.  Attaching to the vine helps us to get the best of spiritual nutrition in the form of trust, faith, hope and love during the worst of life's storms.

Jesus goes on to explain that if we become detached from the vine, we begin to wither and die as if being burned up in a fire.  Here He explains that our lives dry up and become useless in bringing glory to God.  You've heard the saying, "Use it or Lose it" -- it's kind of the same thing.  Owning a Bible but never reading it doesn't change your life or anyone for God's glory.  Taking a Bible study but not applying what you learn in that study to your life doesn't mature or take you deeper.  Attending church on Easter and Christmas just because "it's the thing to do" doesn't bring glory to God's Kingdom or keep you attached to Jesus.

If we want to stay attached to Him it takes discipline --  it takes time --  it takes love --and it takes commitment.  The verse that grabs my heart every time I read it is verse 13 which says, "Greater Love has no man than this, that He would lay down His life for His friends."  Jesus calls us His friends because we love him.  If we love Him we want a relationship with Him and we want to spend time with Him (through prayer, studying His Word, worshipping with His people and serving in His church).  If we love Him, we want to be more like Him (get to know Him, obey Him, let go of ourselves).  If we are committed to Him we are willing to stand firm against temptation, speak the truth in love and sacrifice our time, resources, ability and talents by using them to build His Kingdom, glorify His Name and show others the way to Him.

We can never die to save Jesus -- it's not necessary nor is it possible - but if we live fruitful lives and stay attached to Him, then we willingly lay our lives down for Him daily by being obedient and honoring the sacrifice He made at Calvary. Just doing good deeds won't save or satisfy us no matter how hard we try or how much we give away if we don't have a relationship with Christ.  It's only by attaching ourselves to Jesus, our vine, by linking our lives to Him that we truly begin to live an abundant life that bears good fruit that pleases God -- lives that pour out His love on others.

Spring draws us into a beautiful time of year where we begin to see the new life coming out from the earth. We have so many examples of the vine, branches and fruit around us every day.  This Spring, why not notice it from a spiritual stand-point and consider your own attachment to the vine?  Is your branch (life) healthy and strong enough to withstand the interruption those pests, weather, wind and temperatures that life here on earth brings?  If it's nourished by Jesus, your Vine, it will be.  Don't miss out on a daily feeding -- dig into the Word and cling to the vine with every ounce of strength you have -- your fruitful life could literally depend on it!

Be blessed - not stressed!! Till tomorrow...Amy