“I AM THE VINE!”

John 15:5-8                         (ESV)

“5 “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.

6 If anyone does not abide in ME he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.

7 If you abide in ME, and MY words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

8 By this MY FATHER is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be MY disciples.”

It is interesting to me that in the passage of scripture above JESUS left NO MISTAKE about WHO HE is, and also who mankind is comparatively.  HE is GOD, and we are not!  

However, so many times we refuse to submit to our HIGHER POWER seemingly because we THINK we know better than......maybe GOD?  When a loved one is battling a life threatening illness, or when financial difficulties arise, when a child is lost in the woods, the power of GOD is more than likely required to bail us out!  As a matter of fact, our very breath comes from HIM according to Isaiah 42:5.  

We have the misconception that we are capable of doing things “my way” and taking credit for the results. Sometimes, even at church we try to worship the way we like to worship.   The dictionary defines WORSHIP as “reverent honor and homage paid to GOD....”, not doing what we feel good doing.  JESUS said “By this MY FATHER is glorified”, “if you abide in ME, and MY words abide in you”.  HE didn’t say to have the craziest light show, or the most eloquent pews, but to abide in HIM and HIS words abide in us!  

JESUS also said “apart from ME you can do nothing.”  We can’t function without HIM.  Colossians 1:16 says “For by HIM ALL THINGS were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-all things were created through HIM and for HIM”.  Branches cannot grow unless they are connected to the VINE.  We cannot grow unless we are connected to “I AM THE VINE”!!!