All Things New
Yes, it's that time of the year again! It's time for a brand new calendar; a clean slate of endless possibilities, with all those empty boxes begging to be filled. We are a resolved people! We are resolved to do better this year than last, to love stronger, to forgive easier, to exercise more, and eat less. Every year it’s the same. We resolve to produce more positive fruit! And every year, it only takes a few weeks to get disillusioned and downhearted.
So how will we make this year different? How can we enter the New Year in such a way that we meet our resolution expectations? Believe it or not, scripture offers us an answer. In John 15:5 Jesus says, "Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing." We abide in Christ as He abides in us. It is honestly a little freeing to hear Jesus say, "Apart from me you can do nothing." I cannot tell you how encouraging it is to realize that it is God who is responsible for producing the good things in my life. I am only responsible for one thing, abiding in Christ as He abides in me.
Now, I know what you're thinking, I thought the same thing. What does it mean to abide? That isn't a word that enters our normal vocabulary. I once thought that to abide meant to stay in one location, and this is partly true. To understand what it means to abide, think about holding two repelling magnets together. As long as you are intentional about it, you can hold those magnets together in an abiding state. But when you release them, or forget about them, they cease to abide. Likewise, if we are intentional, we are able to abide in Christ, and he in us, bearing much fruit. I pray for you, in this New Year, that God would give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation to know Him better; and to feel the peace of Christ as you and I learn better what it means to abide in Christ, as He abides in us.
Homework this week: Read John 15 and sit on it for a while. Read it over and over; break it down one sentence at a time. It may take awhile to grasp (if you’re like me), but it is worth a thorough read.
So how will we make this year different? How can we enter the New Year in such a way that we meet our resolution expectations? Believe it or not, scripture offers us an answer. In John 15:5 Jesus says, "Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing." We abide in Christ as He abides in us. It is honestly a little freeing to hear Jesus say, "Apart from me you can do nothing." I cannot tell you how encouraging it is to realize that it is God who is responsible for producing the good things in my life. I am only responsible for one thing, abiding in Christ as He abides in me.
Now, I know what you're thinking, I thought the same thing. What does it mean to abide? That isn't a word that enters our normal vocabulary. I once thought that to abide meant to stay in one location, and this is partly true. To understand what it means to abide, think about holding two repelling magnets together. As long as you are intentional about it, you can hold those magnets together in an abiding state. But when you release them, or forget about them, they cease to abide. Likewise, if we are intentional, we are able to abide in Christ, and he in us, bearing much fruit. I pray for you, in this New Year, that God would give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation to know Him better; and to feel the peace of Christ as you and I learn better what it means to abide in Christ, as He abides in us.
Homework this week: Read John 15 and sit on it for a while. Read it over and over; break it down one sentence at a time. It may take awhile to grasp (if you’re like me), but it is worth a thorough read.