“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. John 15:5
Read the following passages of scripture.
I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20
But by the grace of God, I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 1 Corinthians 15:10
To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Luke 18:9-14
What do these passages say? What do we learn about following Jesus through these passages?
What can we do apart from God according to these passages? Are any of these passages difficult for you?
Do you see any pride in these verses? I don’t! I see that it is about serving God and others; there is nothing about me in these verses. We, as followers of Christ, are totally dependent on God in all things. For us to accomplish anything, we need to depend on God for eternal value.
The Christian life is not about what we do for God. It is about how we live through Him. It’s how we are connected with Him through our relationship. It’s about how He accomplishes His purpose and will through us. It’s about dying to ourselves so that Christ may live through us.
Are you allowing Christ to live through you, or are you living for Christ? Can you do both, or is this just the one or the other kind of question?
Dear Heavenly Father,
You are so worthy. You are magnificent in all ways and areas of life. I pray that we depend on you for every aspect of our lives. I pray that we are honoring you with how we are doing life.
In Jesus Name
Amen
