We choose to spend time with Jesus each day because we believe He is the source of every good thing in our lives. Everything of value flows from this one thing. And without it, we can do nothing.
In John 15 we find Jesus teaching His disciples. In a matter of hours Jesus will be betrayed, arrested, convicted, and crucified. This is His last opportunity to share His heart with His disciples before His death.
So what does He want them to know in this crucial hour?
“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
If the work Jesus has been doing on earth is to continue through the lives of His disciples, they (and we) must stay close to Him, “abide” in Him and love Him. If they (and we) will do this, they (and we) will be fruitful, and many more will be brought into the kingdom of God.
Walking with Jesus is obedience
To abide in Jesus means to love Him and obey Him. We love Jesus when we obey Him. And one of the first ways we obey Jesus is by choosing to pursue a deep, loving relationship with Him every day.
When we choose to spend time with Jesus each day, we are agreeing with Him that abiding in Him and He in us is necessary for us to bear fruit for the kingdom of God.
When we make walking with Jesus the habit of our every day, we are obeying Jesus’ instruction to abide in Him.
He is the source of everything of value in our lives
Just as a branch receives everything it needs to bear fruit from the vine, we receive everything we need to be fruitful followers of Jesus by spending time with Him each day.
It is during these times alone with God that He is able to speak into our lives, to lead us and guide us, and make us more and more like Jesus.
We become better able to hear His voice and respond to His call on our lives. And this allows Him to direct us to the people who need to experience His love for them through us.
Without Him we can do nothing
Jesus was clear about what would happen if His disciples failed to walk closely with Him. Look at the end of John 15:5 again:
“…apart from me you can do nothing.”
If we neglect our time with Jesus, we will be disconnected from our Source, our Vine. Without Him, we will able to do nothing for the kingdom of God. We will be unable to fulfill our purpose in life. In an eternal sense, we will be good for nothing.
Jesus was clear: there is nothing of eternal value or significance that we can accomplish apart from Him.
Next steps
In a previous post we talked about how to begin spending time with Jesus. The steps listed there will help you begin to abide in Jesus every day.
Today, as you spend time with Jesus, talk with Him about His words in John 15:5.
- Agree with Him that you will abide in Him every day;
- Ask that He make you fruitful as you are faithful in spending time with Him;
- Agree with Him that without Him, you can do nothing of eternal value.
I love you all and want the best for you. And that means being with Jesus. Everything of value flows from this one thing.