Stay with Him

Key Verse to Read and Treasure

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. (John 15:4-5, ESV)

For Insight

With Jesus we can do all things because he strengthens, us but without him we can do nothing.

Of course, the worldly minded would argue and debate thus is not so. After all they do plenty without the Lord. They have their physical movements, their good or brilliant mind, their talents, and abilities which they have used and managed to shape a life for themselves, yadda, yadda, yadda. It’s pointless to argue with them because the child of God and person in Christ knows it’s only because God created them and put breath in their body and given them wisdom to understand they can do anything at all.

All of this and more they have, even when they do not acknowledge God as the author of life or Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

This is a very basic understanding of dependency upon God, but Jesus takes it further. He says without him we can do nothing. He is not talking to the worldly-minded here and not just “church” people, but the branch, which is drawing life and strength from him, he is talking to those who have found their life in him.

As a branch on the Vine every work of the Kingdom of God can be accomplished. Whether the branch understands they can’t make sound decisions or even tie their shoes without the Lord’s help is not important, only that the branch knows its incapable of doing any good, profitable, important, lasting, and impactful work without Jesus is what matters most. That any believer thinks he or she can perform or sustain any work, service, or ministry without the Savior’s power only leads to weakness and disappointment. Eventually he or she must learn it is only through and by the power of Jesus that real prayer, healing, true preaching, and teaching take place.

While Jesus was on the mount of Transfiguration a father brought his son to the disciples for healing. Yet they failed to accomplish it. When Jesus came down the mountain there was a great commotion, a discouraged father, and an unhealed boy. The disciples could not understand why they couldn’t heal the boy. After all they had watched Jesus heal and it seemed simple enough. They had spent many hours under his teaching, and they believed in him as the Son of God. Why couldn’t they heal the child?

Jesus said because “this kind only comes out by prayer and fasting.” (Read Matthew 17:14-21). They needed to first ask for power from the life and power source that only the Vine supplies. Apparently not even one of the disciples thought to pray to Jesus and ask for his power to heal. They wanted to perform the miracle but without the Miracle Worker.

In the Vine and through his power we can do all things. Everything the Lord has planned in advance for us to do can be accomplished in him but apart from him we can’t do anything worth doing.  

Lord, I don’t even want to attempt to do anything apart from you. All that I am or can accomplish is because you give me the power to do so. Life in the Vine is amazing! Amen

Ask YourselfHealing,Miracle-worker,

Do you remember to ask Jesus for the power you need to accomplish daily tasks or the work the Father assigns you to do? Is there anything right now you need to draw power from Jesus to accomplish?  

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