Saturday, July 7, 2012

Connect to the Vine

My Utmost For His Highest

‘Thank God that He does give us difficult things to do! His salvation is a joyous thing, but it is also something that requires bravery, courage, and holiness. It tests us for all we are worth. Jesus is “bringing many sons to glory” (Hebrews 2:10 , and God will not shield us from the requirements of son-ship. God’s grace produces men and women with a strong family likeness to Jesus Christ, not pampered, spoiled weaklings. It takes a tremendous amount of discipline to live the worthy and excellent life of a disciple of Jesus in the realities of life. And it is always necessary for us to make an effort to live a life of worth and excellence.’ CHAMBERS

Do you thank God for difficulties in your life?  Do you find joy in the midst of problems or do you wish you were relaxing in a lawn chair with the sun shining down, a soft breeze blowing and the birds singing. Living the Christian life is more like swimming against the current than floating with it.  It requires strength .. endurance … perseverance.  The kind of strength we need in our life in Christ .. must come from Him.  Why would we think that we could live the new life in our own strength after we are saved when we could not live it before we were saved?  If all it takes is confessing and believing (Romans 10:8-9) then why aren’t we living our lives in obedience to the Word and producing the fruit of the Spirit in our lives.  Because there is more to it than that.  We must be connected to the Vine. (John 15:5) We find our strength and our stamina for this new life by drawing from the Vine .. not by trying harder to do the right things.  The discipline is staying connected to the Vine … in our weakness His strength is made perfect (2 Corinthians 12:9) If you are struggling with living right then look at how you are spending your time.  Do you take time to read and study the Word?  Do you pray?  Do you seek opportunities to be with other Christians .. more than socially?  Do you engage your Christian friends on a spiritual level?  I am talking – one on one .. mano a mano  … iron sharpening iron .. (Proverbs 27:17) or is it limited to social gatherings where you talk about kids and football?  Nothing wrong with that .. but that can’t be all there is if you want to be spiritually strong.  Just sitting in a Sunday School class with other Christians does not make you strong.  Sunday cannot be the only time you think about your faith if  you want to live the life of an overcomer.

Jesus said .. follow Me.  Are following Him, or merely watching from the stands.  Let your light shine … connect to the Vine.

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

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