October 20, 2015
You’ll never make it as a solo act. Musicians in famous music groups would have done well to heed this advice, because many decided they were better than their group, and went out on their own - only to fail miserably. The same goes for us: our best “performance” is with our group, and it utterly disastrous to choose to be a solo act.
"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15.4-5)
The group we belong to is Christ and His church, and our life literally depends on that connection. The primary connection must be Christ because, as He says, “apart from Me you can do nothing.” Nature teaches us this lesson, and especially this time of year. Trees shed themselves of leaves, and the leaves have no life in themselves as they fall to the ground. The moment the connection is broken, death and decay begin. And so with us: none of us have any spiritual reserve or vitality to sustain ourselves once connection is broken from the Vine.
Additionally, we are collectively united to the church, the body of Christ. As a young, new believer, I saw the necessity of connection with Christ the Vine, but saw the body of Christ connection as optional. It’s taken me a long time to realize that, no matter how imperfect or flawed the church, there isn’t the slightest possibility of spiritual vitality without it. Perhaps that’s why I grieve when individuals chose to pursue their “solo act” aside of the body of Christ: I am absolutely certain they signed their own spiritual death warrant in doing so.
None of us will make it as a solo act. Connection and communion with Christ on a daily basis is not a luxury; it is an absolute necessity. And, much of His life and vitality is infused in us through His body, the church. Both are crucial; no, essential, for spiritual life and vitality.
The Vine beckons today. Tend to the life-giving connection; see to it that nourishment and life flow freely. Stay vitality connected to His body, the church. Not just on Sundays, but in day-to-day real connection through honest sharing, mutual prayer and support, and genuine compassion.
His life is our life. May we experience it abundantly today.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2015
Be sure to also visit http://thetruthrevolution.wordpress.com/
Amazon ebook & print devotional -http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FQ1Q9GW
paperback print copy of book — https://www.createspace.com/4500045
"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15.4-5)
The group we belong to is Christ and His church, and our life literally depends on that connection. The primary connection must be Christ because, as He says, “apart from Me you can do nothing.” Nature teaches us this lesson, and especially this time of year. Trees shed themselves of leaves, and the leaves have no life in themselves as they fall to the ground. The moment the connection is broken, death and decay begin. And so with us: none of us have any spiritual reserve or vitality to sustain ourselves once connection is broken from the Vine.
Additionally, we are collectively united to the church, the body of Christ. As a young, new believer, I saw the necessity of connection with Christ the Vine, but saw the body of Christ connection as optional. It’s taken me a long time to realize that, no matter how imperfect or flawed the church, there isn’t the slightest possibility of spiritual vitality without it. Perhaps that’s why I grieve when individuals chose to pursue their “solo act” aside of the body of Christ: I am absolutely certain they signed their own spiritual death warrant in doing so.
None of us will make it as a solo act. Connection and communion with Christ on a daily basis is not a luxury; it is an absolute necessity. And, much of His life and vitality is infused in us through His body, the church. Both are crucial; no, essential, for spiritual life and vitality.
The Vine beckons today. Tend to the life-giving connection; see to it that nourishment and life flow freely. Stay vitality connected to His body, the church. Not just on Sundays, but in day-to-day real connection through honest sharing, mutual prayer and support, and genuine compassion.
His life is our life. May we experience it abundantly today.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2015
Be sure to also visit http://thetruthrevolution.wordpress.com/
Amazon ebook & print devotional -http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FQ1Q9GW
paperback print copy of book — https://www.createspace.com/4500045
posted by steve @ 9:00 AM
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