Dependent on Him ...

Friday, July 11, 2014. Our heating at home is done by natural gas. We get the gas from our local town, down in our cellar there is a pipe and it feeds directly into the heating system. We are depending on this gas, and if there is a problem, our heating is down less than a minute later. Without gas supply, no heating.

Vine and Branches …

In the bible, Jesus gives us a similar image, with which he explains our relationship to God. He talks about the vine and the branches. We are the branches, he is the vine. Without our connection to him, we cannot do anything. Let us read in John 15:

1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 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. 5 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.

6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. (John 15, 1-11)

Why? How? …

It is remarkable that our life only works well with a connection to God through Jesus. We might ask: why is this? Some might ask: is it true? Perhaps your life is quite well without Jesus? All over the world there are quite rich people, who do not believe. But we should not look only into one point in time only, but observe the whole life-story of people, including their eternal perspective. Then, everything changes immediately, and faith becomes the crucial part of our whole existence!

Jesus wants us to find the love of God - and live in it. He connects it to both obediance and to joy.

Perhaps you ask yourself: where am I in all of this. This is the question I ask myself. I have to realize that I am not there yet. I believe in him, in Jesus. I am quite amazed and excited by him, yes. I trust him strongly, though I often fail to realize and convert this into my daily life. I even fail to convert it into my view of this world, into my attitudes what is important, and what is really futile.

But I believe that this is not the end, but the beginning. I believe in change - here first of all the change of my own heart, my own mind, my own words and my own behaviour. It is quite exciting: it seems I can feel the change taking place. I can feel it coming. With the willingness to obey, he will give the courage and ability to obey! What did Jesus say: abide in my love. It is almost like “wallow in my love” … and find great joy! (Roland Potthast) ... more texts