draw

(this week's devotions are adapted from those of revolution's leaders)

John 15:5

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing”

Relationship with our heavenly father is “achieved” simply by remaining in Him. The love of Christ, the foundation of our relationship with Him, is not earned, it is received.

In the same way that a branch receives all it needs from the vine we must remain in Him to live purposeful lives. The vine does not lack anything. It has a root system that allows it to access what the branch cannot – nutrients and water. The branch’s job is simply to receive from the vine and produce fruit.

I have a friend who loves gardening, and one of his successes was been an oregano plant that he waters at least once per day if not more. Except for one busy week end when it slipped his mind and he saw his beloved plant had withered – the leaves were curled up and the colour had faded. He watered it hoping that it would somehow survive. The next day the plant was virtually 100 per cent and he was no longer depressed!

When the plant did not receive properly from the source, it began to draw on the very thing it was trying to pour into and produce fruit from. And that is exactly the same for us. When we don’t receive from the father the nutrients and water we need, we draw from our work, our friends, our ministry – the very things that God wants to pour into.

Prayer for the week: Father, your grace is sufficient for me. I will ponder upon all your goodness and believe the right thing. I will delight in your protection and in your peace. Nothing will come against your beloved children.