Come to Jesus, Abide in Jesus, and Bear much fruit

I have been a Christian for about 30 years and it never ceases to amaze me that I am continually in school, spiritually speaking. Just when you think that your maturity level is about as far as you can go, you realize you have only reached the tip of the iceberg. That is the exciting thing about the Christian life. God is constantly opening doors for you to see how vast and limitless He is.

I am currently reading the book Abide In Christ by Andrew Murray. Through this book, the Holy Spirit is revealing to me the benefits of being grafted into the Vine (Jesus). I love the picture this book presents. Jesus is the Vine, I am the branch, the Holy Spirit teaches me how to abide, and God is the Husbandman (the One who cultivates and prunes). I never imagined that I could have unbroken fellowship with Jesus. Even typing those words gives me the chills and butterflies in my stomach. I didn't know it was possible for someone like me to ever be able to achieve that status. Partly, that is true. It is not "I" but Christ.

"I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live. Yet not I but Christ lives in me and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. " - Galatians 2:20.

"I am the Vine. You are the branches and he that abides in Me and I in him. The same brings forth much fruit for without Me, you can do nothing." - John 15:5.

I understand that salvation is not based on works but by the grace and blood of Jesus. However, after salvation occurs, I thought that my good works were what I needed to do to please God. Notice that I said "my" good works. I go to church on Sunday and sing with the worship team and sign for the Deaf. On Thursday, I attend prayer meetings and practice with the worship team. On Fridays, I teach basic sign language for the members of our church. Throughout the year, I volunteer my time to serve God in various outreach events. Surely, the busier I am for God the more pleased He is with me! This is where we fall again and again and again. This revelation brings on a whole new meaning to the verse in Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God." The "be still" translates to "become weak" or "drop your hands". It is Christ in me. He does the work when we "drop our hands" and yield ourselves to Him. Now with that being said, how about this verse?

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." - Matthew 11: 28-31.

I don't know about you but it's starting to make sense to me. The difficulty lies in the yielding and the complete surrender. I am not used to that, however, when we do this, He give us the strength that we need to endure. It will take practice and that's what I am currently doing...moment by moment. Christ is my manna for this day.

"being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." - Philippians 1:6

Come to Jesus, Abide in Jesus, and Bear much fruit