""I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn't produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.
"Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a worthless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.
"I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father's commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!"" (John 15:1-11 NLT)
"O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people. For his merciful kindness is great towards us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD." (PSALM 117 KJV)
One thing is for sure, without a doubt: If we abide in the Lord, we will never worry about being cast out! This is not just an assumption; it is a fact! As we look into the vine and branches illustration, it is most important to understand the simple fact, that no branch can survive without being attached to the vine, period!
The pruning of the branches, although it might hurt a little and for a short while; it makes us grow stronger and helps to create more fruit. I had this conversation with someone yesterday, speaking about what we should do when we are facing some sort of problem, or stuck in something that seems as though it doesn't look good. We should always anticipate that God is working something out, for good, and then anticipate that He is doing a work!
Oddly enough, once we can put that into practice, it can free up our minds to stop being worried about what might happen, and to start looking for what God might be doing. Sometimes it is just a simple little thing like being in a situation where we are able to share a testimony; sometimes, it might be an opportunity just be filled with joy, when you should be worried.
One thing is for sue, and we should never forget it: When we do what God might want us to do, God is always going to get the glory...
"For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: so shall my word be that goeth forth from my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up a fir tree, and instead of the briar shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off." (Isaiah 55:10-13 KJV)
No comments:
Post a Comment