John 15:5
Last weekend while we were at Apex Community Park, I saw this very interesting tree.
 |
| From Picasa |
I was intrigued by it and just couldn't get over it. I stared at it for awhile before I took a picture of it. While I was watching the sun set and watching Todd fish, it hit me why it intrigued me so much. It reminded me of John 15:5 that says “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."
Isn't that the truth? Christ is the vine of life. We are His branches.
I've thought a lot about that tree this weekend. Am I REALLY abiding in Christ? Yes, I spend time in God's word everyday. Yes, Todd & I have a great routine where we pray together every morning before I go to work. Yes, I go to church and serve on a regular basis. But am I really abiding in Christ? And if I am, then can people notice? I wonder how my neighbors would answer that question? I wonder how my co-workers would answer that question. Ouch! The answers may really hurt.
As we start a new week, I challenge myself and I challenge you to ABIDE in Christ. Let Him be our strong root. The thing that we wrap ourselves around.
My prayer for me and my prayer for you this week is: that when we abide in Him, we will bear fruit & others will notice. That our lives will be changed, others lives will be changed and only God will get the glory for it.
 |
| From Picasa |
Love,
Candice
John 15
The Vine and the Branches1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also 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.
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
Love it. What a great capture and the best part is that it has a meaning behind it. Later!
seriously, what a great post. also, kind of goes along with what mike said this weekend... if we were to take away the Bible, would people really know you were a Christian by the way you love others? man, that got to me. applying it here, if we are truly abiding in Christ, others should see and hear it, but more than anything our lives should reflect it:)