The Vine and the Branches

     I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.  He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.  You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.  Remain in me, and I will remain in you.  No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.  Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.  I am the vine; you are the branches.  John 15:1-5  NIV

     Jesus uses the imagery of the vine and the branches to help us understand our position in relationship to God the Father and Jesus the Son.  Jesus is the grapevine.  The grapevine sprouts from the seed and gives life to the branches.  Jesus gives life to us.  We are the branches.  The branches sprout the flowers that produce grapes which have more seeds in them.  God, as the gardener, wants all the grapes he can get.  The grapes are valuable to him.  Our job, as branches, is to produces grapes.  Jesus gives us life so that we can produce more grapes for the father.  God will do whatever it takes in our lives to help us be more fruitful.  He will prune us back, so that we will produce more grapes.  He cares for us and watches over us.  This is a process that has one goal for each participant -- bearing more fruit.
        
        Do you bear fruit?  Do you receive what you need for life from Jesus?  

     

Remembering Miracles

"Search for the LORD and for his strength;   continually seek him. Remember the wonders he has performed,   his miracles, and the rulings he has given." Psalm 105:4–5  NLT      Being a Christian is not something that we can "do" and then forget about.  We often hear the question, "Are you saved?"; but salvation is not a contract.  It is a relationship.      When we first become Christians, it is easy to see the contrast between our lives as believers and our lives without Christ.  Later, when the excitement wears off, it becomes easy to take God for granted.      I always wondered how the Israelites, who walked through the sea on DRY GROUND, could ever forget how God delivered them?  When I pray for God's intervention in my own life, I am grateful for the answers to my prayers.  Then as time goes by, I start to wonder if those good events might have happened anyway.  Just like the Israelites, I am also in danger of forgetting that it is God who works miracles on our behalf.      The Psalmist urges us to continually seek God, to remember his miracles, to know his laws.  It is God who gives us strength.  Don't forget how God has intervened in your life.  The miracles God works for you may not be as notable as a million people crossing the sea on dry ground; but, they are miracles, and God has worked them just for you.

God's Mercy is for Everyone

After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting his tax booth. "Follow me," Jesus said to him, Luke 5:27 NIV

You are forgiving and good, Oh Lord, abounding in love to all who call upon you. Psalm 86:5 NIV

There were few people who were more despised than tax collectors. Imagine living in a country that is invaded and conquered by a strong military force. Then your friend begins to work for those who conquered your nation. And he cheats his countrymen every chance he gets. He would not be popular, no matter when or where he lived. Levi was such a person. Yet Jesus called this man, Levi, to follow him. And Levi responded.

Many folks think that they are not good enough to follow Jesus. But the goal of Jesus was to call everyone. The goal of Jesus is to forgive. There is no job that excludes you from his call. There is no past that is too dark to exclude you. Jesus wants us all to follow him and he is eager to accept you.

Hurt Beyond Repair

When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals -- one on his right, the other on his left.  Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."  Luke 23:33-34 NIV

     How do you respond when someone hurts you?  If you are like me, forgiveness is a process.  It takes me a while to get over myself and decide the relationship is more important that the injustice I suffered.  Jesus forgave those who crucified him as they were doing it.  They did not ask for his forgiveness and they did not want it; but, Jesus gave it to them anyway.

     Forgiveness is more about the forgiver than the one being forgiven.  It is the nature of Jesus to forgive.  How is it in your nature to respond when you or someone you love is hurt beyond repair?

A God of Sympathy

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are -- yet was without sin.  Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.  Hebrews 4:15,16 NIV

     Are you ever hesitant to ask God to supply your needs?  The author of Hebrews makes it clear that Jesus is sympathetic.  He understands our faults and our weaknesses.  He knows how many of our problems we bring on ourselves and we can still approach God's throne with confidence.  Jesus died for us.  God is not going to be hard nosed when we bring our worries to him. He loves us and wants us to ask so that he can give to us freely.

God Protects and Delivers

The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.  Psalm 34:7

Then the Lord opened the servants eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.  2 Kings 6:17  NIV

     Satan is always looking for ways to attack us.  He wants to draw us away from God.  But it is not just Elisha, the prophet, who is surrounded by angel warriors.  Psalm 34 lets us know that God cares for and delivers all of us who claim him as Lord.

        It is important to notice elsewhere in the passage, that the angels did not attack until Elisha asked the Lord to act.

        How are you being attacked?  Remember that God has you surrounded by defenders who are willing and able to deliver you.  Ask God to intervene.  He will deliver you.

The Opportune Moment

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. (1 Peter 3:15 NIV)

I treasure Jesus and all that he has done for me. I treasure what he has given me in this life and I'm looking forward to the life to come that is only possible because of his sacrifice. At the same time, I know that I am not an evangelist. Even though I do not have a gift for evangelism, I still have the privilege of telling others about Jesus, from time to time.

Peter tells us to be sure that we are respectful and gentle when we tell others about Jesus. My problem is that when I am excited about something, I can come on too strong. It is important that we are patient with those who are looking for Jesus. We have to let them take the time to make their own decision; otherwise (and I know this should be obvious), the decision is not their own -- and it has to be.

It is also important to remember that Peter is talking about our conversations with other people who ask us about him. When they ask, we know that the timing is right and the conversation will be more effective.

As a home mental health therapist, I once worked with a psychiatrist who gave me some really good advice. He said that when I see a problem that needs to be addressed in a client's life, to make sure and wait until the opportune moment to speak to the client about it. Otherwise, the client won't be receptive. I think this is also true when we are sharing Jesus with others. Wait until the opportune moment. God will let us know when the time is right.

Driving Directions

Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.  Psalm 119:105  NLT

For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way to life,  Proverbs 6:23  NIV 1984

     Where would we be without MapQuest or GoogleMaps or YahooMaps?  Sitting by the side of the road, trying to refold a huge and unruly piece of paper, is the most likely answer.  

     I went to a conference in Chicago earlier this week.  I had been once before and had some idea of where I was going.  But, I do not have a good sense of direction and it is hard when you are in downtown Chicago and all you can see are buildings to know that the Lake is east and that's the way you need to go.  

     Don't get me wrong.  I have driven Lake Shore Drive many times and the building I was headed for was on the corner of Lake Shore Drive and Chicago Avenue.  Not too hard to remember or find.  But because I doubt myself and the assigned parking garage was two blocks away, I went to one of the map websites to get directions for every step of my journey.

     The map took me into Chicago a slightly different way than I am used to going; but, I did not want to stray from my directions lest I become totally lost.  At one point, I was to merge from I90 onto I55 North.  The directions said to take the left fork.  But when I got to the place where I was to merge, I55 North was the RIGHT fork, not the left.  And there was no time to think.  I decided to go to the right and soon realized  I had gone the wrong way.  Whenever I'm traveling, I always allow for time to get lost, so, I still made it to my conference in plenty of time; but that was in spite of the map, not because of it.

     You know where this is going.  We are given a map in God's Word to follow for our lives.  If we stray from the map, we might find ourselves lost in darkness.  God's word helps us to see clearly the issues of life and helps us to make decisions that are pleasing to God.

     I was able to make my conference because I was already familiar with the city.  Become familiar with God's Word.  That way, when you inadvertently stray from the path, you will be able to rely on what you already know to guide you back to the light.