John 15:5 – “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”

Obviously Christ Himself is the vine; believers are the vine branches. It is not a question of the branch living its life for the Vine, but simply of letting the life of the Vine flow out through the branches. Sometimes we pray, “Lord, help me to live my life for You.” It would be better to pray, “Lord Jesus, live out Your life through me.” Without Christ, we can do nothing of any eternal value. A vine branch has one great purpose—to bear fruit. It is useless for making furniture or for building homes. It does not even make good firewood. But it is good for fruit-bearing—as long as it abides in the vine. Like a dead branch, a person without Christ is spiritually dead. Judas was with Jesus; he seemed like a “branch.” But he did not have God’s life in him; therefore he departed; his destiny was like that of a dead branch. Followers of Jesus are called to remain in the Lord, to stay close to Him and obey His Word. If you remain in Jesus, your life will naturally produce lasting fruit. If your stay far from the Lord, your life will never produce anything of value.

Challenge:

Looking back on your past can you see the times when you were completely functioning in His strength and other times when you were not? When I find myself responding in an ungodly way toward someone else’s actions, I know I am not letting His light shine through me. However, when I have the opportunity to show a stranger some kindness, then I am blessed at seeing the Lord’s heart being rightly displayed. Your challenge this week is to let the Lord’s life flow through you by remaining in constant contact with Him and under complete control of Him. You see, He will use you and your efforts to display His love for them. Whether you do the small things, like picking up a dropped item or holding open a door or speaking a kind word, or bigger things, like picking up the meal check or buying an expensive gift or donating a used vehicle, God can bless the life of another through you. God wants to show you and those around you just how much He cares for you and loves you. The question is, “will you let Him?” This week, let God use you to bless others. May God bless you richly.

Be Christ centered,