Click here to watch my video reflection on our text for today, or keep reading for my written reflections: 

Today as one of our readings, we look at John 15: 1-5:

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. 2 He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. 3 You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.

Today in our readings from John, we see Jesus’ teaching about being the true vine, and how we are the branches.  This is some of Jesus’ key teaching, we see today that apart from Him, we can do nothing.  He is our strength, our everything.  

Our primary goal is not to focus on what it is that we “do” it is to focus on who we are.  It is not about doing things for Jesus. It is about remaining in Jesus. Because if we are doing, but not remaining, or abiding in Him, then our actions will be wrongly motivated, they will make us hard-hearted, or legalist, and not please God or draw others to Him. 

But if we abide in Jesus, if we remain rooted in Him, then our life and our actions will flow from His grace, and we will truly serve Him, love others, and give glory to Him.  

Apart from Him, we can do nothing.  Our primary goal is to abide in Jesus. To remain deeply rooted in Him.  

Well, how do we do that? How do we abide?  I believe we abide by opening ourselves up to the Holy Spirit, by allowing the Spirit to move within us and shape us.  

I think we abide by reading scripture.  Not reading for head knowledge sake, but reading to be shaped and formed.  To allow the words to shape our soul and draw us closer to Christ. 

I believe we abide through prayer.  Pray and scripture have a divine dance. One leads to the other.  Our prayer should draw us to scripture and our scripture should draw us to prayer.  

I believe we abide through worship.  This last year has been tough with worship, but now we are at a place, where if are healthy and feel safe, I’d encourage you to worship with your local church in person if you are able.  If not find an online church to be a part of weekly. But we need weekly worship. It is good for the soul. We’d love to have you worship with us sometime in person at St. Matthew’s – www.stm-umc.org/worship.  

We abide through service.  Through loving. Through caring.  Through being His hands and feet.  Our goal is to be shaped and formed by Jesus. No to “do.”  If we are doing, apart from abiding, then are not being faithful.  

I think a lot about a quote from Mother Teresa – “God does not call us to be successful, God calls us to be faithful.”  If we are abiding in Him, through the power of the Holy Spirit, then we are truly being faithful.  

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