John 15 has been following me around lately… and I couldn’t be more grateful. It’s been the focus of two Bible Study’s recently, a friend reminded me of it the other day, and then Pastor preached on it this morning. What I love is that I can also see so many connections to this focus here on the blog of intentionality. My favorite connection comes in the word “remain” or “abide” found multiple times throughout the chapter.
Normally when you are intentional about something, you are actively DOING something, but here, the intentionality comes in the NOT doing… in ceasing the striving… in simply just being.
However, especially in our “go-go-go”, “hurry, hurry”, “do-this, do that” culture, actively not doing can be so much harder that doing. Yet, the peace in intentionally letting go and remembering that we can do absolutely nothing without God, is so freeing and brings great joy. We are created to bear fruit in our lives… and it has nothing to do with what we as the branch do besides simply remain connected to the Vine and seek His face in all things.
Praying that we’d all be better branches this week, simply abiding in His love and letting everything we do come out of that.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing… As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. … You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other.”
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