S) "5 I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing."
John 15:5 (NASB)
O) Jesus is giving His disciples late-term admonitions. This verse is the recap of a longer parable, where Jesus calls Himself the vine, and His disciples the branches from Him. He promises to His disciples, that as long as they are firmly in Him, just as a branch that is fully part of a vine, they will bear fruit - much fruit. But, rather abruptly, Jesus brings everything down, breaking from the parabolic terms, to warn His disciples that they will not be able to do anything apart from Him. He wanted to be clear on that point, with no uncertain terms.
A) There is some room for interpretation, as long as Jesus is speaking in parables. Often times, it becomes very clear. Either He clarified later to His disciples, or it becomes fairly evident through context. But, this verse really struck me, when Jesus broke off the parable (which dealt with the promise), in order to give the clear and unmistakable warning. Apart from Him, I can do nothing. I cannot walk in righteousness without Him. I cannot be a godly, or good husband. I cannot parent without Him. Often times, though, I catch myself trying. I find myself having tried to make things work on my own strength, my own wisdom, my own will. It's not a mindful rebellion, but that doesn't actually matter. The real issue, is that I take my eyes off of my savior. If I keep Him in focus, then I will, as a natural progression, do everything I do as an extension of my relationship with Him. It's not that I am trying to add more Jesus to my marriage, work, etc. It's that I am starting my day - and every moment throughout my day - with my relationship to Jesus. Starting from that point, just Him and me, I will be able to bear much fruit in every area of my life.
P) Father, too often I am trying to make things work. I try to make righteousness and self-control work. I try to make things in my marriage work. I try to make my parenting work. I try to make... work... I try to make... I try... Father God, I cannot make anything work. I confess that I have been too prideful about my approach to things. I haven't been consciously excluding You, and I've been mistakenly thinking that it's the same as including You. Remind me that, if I am not fully including You, then I am expelling You. If I am not fully abiding in Jesus, then I am fully abiding apart from Him. Open my eyes to see all of the areas, in my life and in my heart, that I have been trying to work without You. Help me start my days within You, LORD, and then move throughout my day with You. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
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