Abiding in the Vine.

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If there were no other chapter in the Bible, we might be able to get along with the fifteenth chapter of the Gospel of John. Actually, the key idea of the Christian discipleship is that of abiding in the Vine, in the Lord Jesus Christ.

(4/3/2005) There are many religions in the world, aren’t there? Religion kind of runs parallel to salvation. Sometimes religion assists our salvation, sometimes it hinders it. But we must never permit religion to interfere with our walk with God or our knowledge of God.

Jesus Christ is the only true Vine. He is vastly more than a religion. He is the Tree of Life from God. There are many religions, as I have stated; but there is only one Tree of Life.

Whatever our religion may be, the one essential action we must take is to abide in the one true Vine, in Christ. How do we do that? We do that by entering the eternal dialogue. The eternal dialogue operates as we continually look to the living Lord Jesus all through the day and night.

Our life, as you think about it, is a series of problems and decisions. From the time we get up in the morning until we lie down at night, we are faced with problems and decisions of various kinds. These problems and decisions vary according to our culture.

In the wealthy Western nations we decide what to eat and how much to eat. What clothes to wear. Then we arrive at work and are faced with the problems of our vocation. The people of the poorer countries encounter the various problems of survival.

We can face each problem and make each decision according to our experience, wisdom, and strength. Or we can keep on looking to Jesus for wisdom and strength.

We are late for work. We jump in the car and the battery is dead. Our teenage son left the lights on. What do we do now?

We can rave and swear, rush in the house and berate our son. Our we can stop for a moment, look up to Jesus, and ask for His wisdom, His solution.

Just then a friend stops by. "Dan, remember we were going to car pool today. Hop in."

Every time we yield to our adamic nature we remain dead spiritually. Every time we subdue the adamic impulse and look to Jesus we abide in Christ. Pretty soon our entire day is filled with prayer for help concerning the things that go wrong, and thanksgiving for the things that go right.

When we thus remain in Christ, we begin to bear fruit. The fruit we bear is the Life and Character of the Lord Jesus Christ. The fruit we bear is for the people of the world. When they come to us and receive what we are, do, and say, they receive God's life. "The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come!’"

We have been called to be saints so we can bring God’s Life, His love, joy, and peace, to the people of the nations of the earth. It is God’s will that Israel blossom, bud, and bear fruit; that righteousness and praise spring forth before earth’s multitudes.

There are two factors that work to determine your rank in God’s Kingdom. One factor is the Divine election directed toward you. The other is your willingness to be pruned.

As you are willing for the Divine Farmer to cut away parts of your personality and accomplishments, you will bear fruit, more fruit, and then much fruit. To grow up to the rank of much fruit means you will shine as a star in the firmament of God. Your righteousness and wisdom that have come to you from Christ will result in the winning of many souls, a splendid banquet for the Lord’s table.