JOHN 15:1-9 – “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.”
THEME OF THE DAY: DON’T MAKE NOTHING MEAN SOMETHING. Today’s scripture is Jesus’ familiar Parable of the Vine and Branches. Within its rich context are three truths; the principle for Christian living which is abiding in Christ; the evidence of Christian living, bearing fruit; and the increasing of fruit in the Christian life, fruit to more fruit to much fruit. Today’s lesson is about fruit-bearing based on Jesus’ Words – “He it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
From start to finish, the whole of the Christian life is of grace. This “work” starts with God and ends with God – And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6). Every Christian knows this truth, professes this truth, but may struggle at times living this truth. Why? Allow Jerry Bridges, from his book Transforming Grace: Living Confidently in God’s Unfailing Love, help us answer the why question. Bridges writes, “My observation of Christendom is that most of us tend to base our personal relationship with God on our performance instead of His grace. We are legalistic by nature; that is, we innately think so much performance by us earns so much blessing from God. Not only are we legalistic by nature, our Christian culture reinforces this attitude in us. We are exhorted to attend church regularly, have a regular quiet time, study our Bibles, pray, memorize Scripture, witness to our neighbors, and give to missions – all of which are important Christian activities. Though no one ever comes right out and says so, somehow the vague impression is created in our minds that we’d better do those things or God will not bless us.”
Now not a one of us would be quick to embrace what Bridges confesses, but it we think through it, we are performance driven people. Our culture measures success by performance, and our churches are not immune to this influence upon God’s people. Yet, everything is of God’s grace, even the disciplines and activities Bridges mentions. And we must consistently remind ourselves, daily, of this truth. If not, we will drift into the performance trap as the measurement of our relationship and fellowship with God. When Jesus says, “You can do nothing without Me”, let’s make sure we don’t substitute the word “something” for nothing. Our Lord doesn’t say, “You can do something without Me.” A good verse to keep before us to protect us from the performance trap is from the Apostle Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians – But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me (1 Corinthians 15:10). Let’s learn to apply what he applied to himself!
PRAYER: “Father, make me constantly aware of my total dependency on the grace that is in Your Son.”
QUOTE: “When Jesus says, ‘Without Me, you can do nothing’, make sure we don’t replace ‘nothing’ with ‘something.’”
In the affection of Christ Jesus,
Pastor Jim