Jesus said, “I am the Vine; you are the branches” (John 15:5).
I have prayed for myself and the congregation I serve: “Oh God, invade who we are, where we are. Transform us into who you want us to be and send us where you want us to go.”
It occurred to me that this prayer cannot be answered unless we (the branches) choose to tap in to the vine, who is the one who has the strength to invade, transform and send. Jesus makes it clear who is the vine, who are the branches, and then declares…
“If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit.”
The message translates it in these words…
“When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant.”
Obviously, the key is to be “tapped in” to Jesus. So why is it that we have so much difficulty staying connected to Jesus, his thoughts and ways? I think it has something to do with an illustration I read on a blog by Dr. Del Tackett from The Truth Project and Focus on the Family. Del was out running and discovered that there was a pebble in his shoe. Pebbles in the shoe can distract a runner from his/her appointed purpose…running! It is also our appointed purpose as Christ-followers to “run the race.” These “pebbles” in our running shoes can be a great distraction and deterrent to a successful “run.” The writer to the Hebrews says…
“Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.”
The key is to avoid traps, throw off entanglements, so we don’t trip. But we can’t do it without being tapped in to the vine, because it is his spirit that enables us to recognize the traps and have the strength and wisdom to avoid them. The place where most Christians fail to avoid being trapped is in our speech and, closely connected, our listening habits. We often pass on what we have heard without verifying facts and determining whether what we’re sharing is helpful, hurtful or harmful. The character of Christ in us will only pass on that which is helpful. It will only share that which builds up. If it does not edify, it is not of Christ.
Let the relation be intimate and organic.
