Joining GodSample

BE THE BRANCH

Jesus told the most epic metaphor of joining God. It’s cited in John 15. Jesus is giving the last instructions to His first disciples. The metaphor is an absolute game changer for every disciple of Christ since. To me, it’s so vivid that if you hear it or see it accurately, you’ll live it the rest of your life. This is what Jesus said:

"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. 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. . . . By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.” (John 15:4–5, 8)

The branch (you and me whom God has saved) has two choices on where to focus: 1. We can focus on the performance/production where the grapes are to grow; 2. Or we can focus on proximity to Jesus—abiding in close relationship with Him. Pick #1 or #2, but you can’t do both.

This is your big decision; it’s the game changer. Either you abide and have proximity to Jesus or try to perform and produce fruit in your strength. Every time we try to grow fruit and rely on our energy, we come up empty and resign ourselves to paste fake fruit onto our lives.

Living in our strength, we find ourselves struggling to do things that are only born of God. Being friendly and biting your tongue is a far cry from having peace and self-control—the former is the fruit of the flesh and the latter the fruit of the Spirit.

The real hope we have for a fruitful life is to agree to join God. By continuously clinging to God, we will look over one day to see our lives bearing fruit that blows our minds. You are a branch if Christ has saved you. Now the only question is: What end of the branch will you focus on? Performance is exhausting and unfruitful. Proximity pays enormous dividends—join God.

PUT IT INTO PRACTICE:

• Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any striving activities you’ve grown accustomed to.
• Confess all past striving in your strength to God and agree how painful it’s been.
• Tell Jesus that your heart’s desire is to stay close to Him and not shut Him out.