“FOR APART FROM ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING!”

 John 15:1-10                    (ESV)

I AM the True Vine

“[1] “I AM THE TRUE VINE, and MY FATHER is THE VINEDRESSER. [2] Every branch in ME that does not bear fruit HE (THE VINEDRESSER) takes away, and every branch that DOES BEAR FRUIT HE prunes, that it may bear MORE FRUIT. [3] Already you are clean because of the WORD that I have spoken to you. [4] Abide in ME, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in ME. [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. [9] As the FATHER has loved ME, so have I loved you. Abide in MY love. [10] If you keep MY commandments, you will abide in MY love, just as I have kept MY FATHER’S commandments and abide in HIS LOVE.”

When I was a youngster in the youth department of the church I was attending, I was asked to do a devotional for the youth ministry during an outing they had.  Now I wasn’t CHOSEN yet, but I read the above passage of Scripture and GOD kept these verses in my mind for the rest of my life, so far!  

Now, nearly fifty years later while reading John 15, I was allowing the SPIRIT OF GOD to speak to me and HE said “FOR APART FROM ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING”!!  I wasn’t a BELIEVER in the mid-70’s, but GOD used that devotional to SPEAK to my life as only HE can!  

Realizing that HE is now telling me while reading these verses that “FOR APART FROM ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING” is VIVIDLY more clear now!  The seventeen day coma I experienced in July 2007 opened my EYES to SEE things in a different light. I couldn’t do ANYTHING on my own during the almost three week period that I was intubated (Isaiah 42:5).  It was as if I had always “just figured” my next breath was coming???  But since I have been where I was in July 2007, I am able to SEE things EXTREMELY more clearly!!!

Yes, “FOR APART FROM ME (JESUS) YOU (me!) CAN DO NOTHING” now carries a completely different meaning!  I tried “on my own”, and I failed miserably!!!  

My prayer is that everyone who reads this will have their EYES OPENED to SEE that “FOR APART FROM ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING” before your time is up!!!

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