I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without
Our Saviors perpetual joy was due to His unceasing endeavor to minister help and blessing to others. He saved others; He could not save Himself. He said: "I am the true vine," i.e., the vine was made by Him in creation to represent a certain phase or characteristic of Himself. It is the reflection in the waters of materialism of eternal principles deep-seated in His divine nature. The study of the vine is, therefore, especially precious in its teaching.
Behind the
vine, as we know it, there is an immense pressure of energy. In the spring, it
seems as though the love of God were pressing for expression in the corn that
supports life, in the oil that makes the face to shine, and in the grape that
cheers. The vine cannot bear fruit, of itself; it is only the channel along
which the energy of God flows in its endeavor to gladden the heart and life of
man. So Jesus is the channel through which the life and love of God reach us,
that we may pass them on in loving ministry, and in so doing we are creating
and storing up for ourselves infinite joy.
Let each of
us learn to abide in Christ with the heart open to Him on the one hand, and
open to men, women and children on the other. Then let us trust Christ to pour
His love and grace into our hearts, that the pressure within may lead us to
perform acts of tender sympathy and helpfulness of which we would not otherwise
have been capable. Let us resolve to let no day pass without doing something at
cost to ourselves, to make the burden lighter and the path easier for someone
else.
Our
willingness for Christ to do these things through us will always meet a
response from Him; and His Spirit being in us will show us exactly what to say
or do. It may be only a smile, a touch of the hand, or a word! Thus life will
be filled with joy, and this will be perpetuated in that other life, when we
shall awake and be satisfied. As we mingle with the throng of happy spirits who
have come out of great tribulation--the martyrs, prophets, apostles, and saints
of every age---the greatest wonder of all will be that we are there.
"Lord, when saw we You hungry, and fed Thee? or thirsty, and gave You
drink? Then He will answer them, saying,
'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of
these, you did not do it to Me.'
(Matthew 25:45 NKJV)
PRAYER
May I never
forget, O Lord, that the best and happiest life must be lived in communion with
the needs, sorrows, and trials of others. Give me a closer sympathy with Yourself,
who did not please Yourself, but whose blessed life was perpetually laid down
for others. In Jesus name I pray, AMEN.
God's Daily Promise
Promise #19:
I will bless your life and keep watch over you always.
Numbers 6:24 (WEB)
‘Yahweh
bless you, and keep you.
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