"The Way of Life"

"Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me." (Psalms 36:11) If we are abiding in Jesus, then we are going to bear fruit, there is no other thing that can take place in us. What happens to cause us not to bear fruit is either the result of pride, or the result of sin, and both are the result of not abiding in Christ. David uses the foot to describe the way pride works, and the hand of the wicked is how we are captured by sin; it really comes down to humility and protection, if we want to adhere to "The Vine". Pride is not something that you fall into, it is the way that you walk; if you are not walking in humility, then you are bound to step into pride; and pride will lead to a fall. The hand of the wicked is how sin just reaches out at us; it's really not something that we need to look for, because it is really all around us; besides that, it has tentacles that grab you when you are enticed. Sin cannot abide on "The Vine"; a branch that has sin within it is like a branch that is infected with a sickness, that will eventually be removed and wither. But here is the thing that many forget, it's not the sin that will be the result of this removal, it's the pride that will not repent of the sin; asking forgiveness and turning away from the sin is what abiding in Christ is all about. It is totally ridiculous to think that we can live in sin and still abide in Christ; those that try to do that will end up finding out that they dead, just as a withered branch that is good for nothing but fuel for a fire. There is another thing about pride that can be hard to overcome, is that pride will hold it's ground; that means, it digs in it's heals, resisting the opportunities that come for repentance. There must be repentance from sin, and complete repentance from sin requires complete humility before God; even a withered branch can be used again... "Humble yourself therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time: casting all your cares upon Him; for He careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour; whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Jesus Christ, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen." (1 Peter 5:6-11)