Day 20 of 40 Day Discipleship Walk With Jesus Christ: Abide in Jesus the vine
Friday December 20th, 2024
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John 15:5
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.
We have discussed the DNA of discipleship, but without Jesus these things are just religious activity. Think about Jesus being our life. Think about how he saves and frees us from the devil’s work. How he works in us, guides us, teaches us, and prays for us. He calls us friends. We are to abide in Him and let Him live his life through us. We are to obey what he taught us and let him be the rock on which we build our lives. We are to imitate him even to the point of taking up the cross, identifying with his death and living the new life he provides. We need to be sure to build our learning around Jesus and not have discipleship activities be an end in themselves. This is a challenge in spiritual formation: to keep Christ central.
Short Story on the Vine and the Branch
The sun was setting over the vineyard, casting a warm orange glow over the rows of vines. The air was filled with the sweet scent of ripening grapes, and the sound of buzzing bees could be heard as they flitted from flower to flower, collecting nectar.
In one corner of the vineyard, a young woman named Sophia knelt down beside a particularly vibrant vine. She was a skilled viticulturist, and she had been tasked with tending to this vineyard since it was a small, fledgling operation.
As she examined the vine, Sophia felt a sense of connection to it. She knew that the key to a successful harvest was to nurture the vines, and to allow them to grow and flourish in their own way. She had always felt a sense of peace and contentment when working in the vineyard, and she believed that the vines felt the same way.
“You are the vine,” she whispered to the vine, “and I am the branch. Without you, I cannot do anything.”
Sophia’s voice was barely audible over the sound of the wind rustling through the leaves, but the vine seemed to respond to her words. It reached out with its tendrils, wrapping itself around her arms and holding her in place.
As she stood there, Sophia felt a surge of energy and purpose. She knew that the vine was giving her strength and guidance, and she felt a sense of fulfillment that she had never experienced before.
Over the next few weeks, Sophia tended to the vine with even greater care and attention. She pruned its branches, and watered it with great care, and she spoke to it every day, as if it were a living being. And as she did so, the vine responded by growing stronger and more vibrant. Its grapes ripened to perfection, and the vineyard produced one of the most successful harvests in years.
As the harvest season came to an end, Sophia looked out over the vineyard with a sense of pride and accomplishment. She knew that she had been a part of something special, and she felt grateful for the lessons that the vine had taught her.
“I am the branch,” she said to herself, “and you are the vine. Together, we can do great things.”
The vine is Jesus Christ!
For Reflection:
- What causes you to lose your focus on Jesus?
- What causes you to try to do things “apart from” Jesus?
Make Life Count:
- Sit quietly and imagine with each breath you take, Jesus’ life is flowing through you and with each exhalation your worries and sins are being cast on Him.
Shalom!
