Take a moment to reflect on Jesus’ words in John 15:4-5.
“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.”
Trim a limb off a tree and what happens? That limb will never grow another inch. Accidentally cut your finger off with a table saw and what happens? That finger has been cut off from the source of life. Remove a branch from a vine and what happens? It’s dead. It can never and will never bear more fruit.
“Apart from me you can do nothing.” Shouldn’t that make us desperate for Jesus? Shouldn’t that fuel our thanksgiving and keep us humble? Shouldn’t that shape every aspect of our relationship with him?
Apart from him, we are alienated. Apart from him, there is no hope. Apart from him, we are walking through life without God. Apart from him, we can do nothing. Nothing to save ourselves. Nothing to redeem ourselves. Nothing to right our own wrongs.
But here is the opportunity–graciously extended by the Son of God–to abide in him and he in us. Amazing!
“Apart from me you can do nothing.” Let’s be aware of that when we pray in his name. Let’s remember that when we have the opportunity to forgive. Let’s focus on that when we’re called on to serve. Let’s allow that truth to shape the way we worship.
“Apart from me you can do nothing.” Thank God we don’t have to face life apart from him.