Without Me, Nothing

Day 3: Without Me, Nothing

Scripture: John 15:1-11

"Without me ye can do nothing." John 15:5

You don't see a branch trying to bear fruit. They don't strive in the springtime to make more grapes than they did last year. The branch stays on the vine, and the vine's life flows through it. When you're connected, you will naturally bear fruit.

The night before he went to the cross, Jesus told his disciples about this relationship we are supposed to have with him. "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." John 15:4

This is why we feel so empty and like nothing we do bears any fruit. We are trying to be patient, have more joy, find peace, etc. On our own. We act like WE are the vine. Jesus says you can do NOTHING. Not a little, nothing.

So it's easy to feel down about this, right? But I think it should set us free. We are not the source of that life we want to live. We need to abide. Stay connected. Keep his word in us (John 15:7) and obey his commands (John 15:10).

He also talks about being pruned (John 15:2).

Those seasons where nothing seems to be working may just be God pruning your life and removing what isn't allowing you to bear more fruit. And he ends this section by telling us why he told us all of this. "That my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full."

Life Application:

Instead of bearing fruit. Abide. Pick one verse from John 15 and keep it somewhere you'll see it throughout the day. Write it on a piece of paper, put it on your phone screen, or on the mirror in your bathroom. At least 3 times a day, remind yourself to "abide in Jesus."

Question to ponder: Where are you trying to bear fruit on your own?

Prayer:

Jesus, you are the vine; I am the branch. Forgive me for trying to bear fruit on my own. Help me abide in you today. Prune my life where you need to and let your life flow through me. Amen.