JOHN 15:4-7 – 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.”
THEME OF THE DAY: IN CONSTANT NEED OF THE LORD’S EMPOWERING PRESENCE. Let’s take a moment and think what confronts Christians each waking moment of each day. There is a spiritual conflict that if our eyes were open to see what is happening in the unseen spiritual realm, we would be overwhelmed. We could not handle it. And not to mention the intense battle that rages within our own hearts! Behind these spiritual conflicts are a crafty devil, deceiving world, and a heart within each of us that cannot be trusted. But then we must add something else to the Christian life. We have a gospel to proclaim, brothers and sisters to encourage, and a world to influence for Jesus.
So, considering all just described of the Christian life, the theme of the day would be unanimously embraced by every Christian. We are in constant need of the Lord’s empowering presence. But if that wasn’t enough, in today’s scripture, Jesus makes it clear “For apart from me, you can do nothing.” As negative as those words may sound, they are blanketed by the positives. Our Lord basically says, “With Me, you can do all that I command you, desire of you, and will be able to fight all the battles associated with being My child.” Or we could simply say of our Lord, “For apart from Me, you can do nothing, but with Me, you can do anything.” However, and there is a big however, we must do one thing first, and continue to do this one thing if we hope to maintain a constant awareness of our total dependency on the power, wisdom, and protection of the Lord Jesus.
This one thing is found in a familiar portion of scripture in the third Proverb written by King Solomon – Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones (Proverbs 3:5-8). The only way to lean totally on the Lord Jesus is to refuse to lean on ourselves for anything or for one moment. We get into all kinds of spiritual trouble when we trust ourselves, or worse, attempt to do any spiritual good to include spiritual warfare in the strength of ourselves. And here is the way to determine if we are doing so – how goes our prayer lives? Prayer is the language of love AND dependency upon the Lord. Without a vibrant prayer life, the message we send to the Lord is, “I got this. I don’t need You.” And when that characterizes our lives, welcome spiritual defeat, and a fruitless walk with the Lord.
Constantly in need of the Lord’s empowering presence. That defines the Christian life from start to finish. May the Lord help us to live in that awareness as we develop a prayer life that keeps that awareness ever before us.
PRAYER: “Father, help me to maintain constant awareness of my total dependency on the grace found in Your Son”
QUOTE: “We are in constant need of the power, wisdom, and protection of the Lord Jesus. Alone, we are helpless.”
In the affection of Christ Jesus,
Pastor Jim