© 2010
“I am the true vine,
and my Father is the gardener.
He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit,
while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.
You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
Remain in me,
and I will remain in you.
No branch can bear fruit by itself;
it must remain in the vine.
Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
_ _ _ _ _
I have been crucified with Christ
and
I no longer live,
but Christ lives in me…
We see by the first line of this verse, the apostle Paul proclaims that he is “with Christ,” (in Christ) and then immediately we see that Christ lives “in him”. And that’s how it works! For to the degree that you identify “with Jesus” in His crucifixion. It is to that degree that “He will be in you”. First we are to be “in Him,” (John 15:1-17,) then as our priority is on being at that place, the manifestation of Colossians 1:27 will take place:
…which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
* * * * *
One of the meanings of “to be in Him is:
“To wait upon Him”.
Yet “not” to wait passively, but to wait actively,
like someone hunting!
Being alert,
being watchful,
looking for our God within your life.
Listening,
to what He is saying to you.
Seeing,
what he is doing in your life.
Asking Him questions, questions like:
Lord, what are you saying to me right now?
or
Lord, where are you in my life right now?
or
What are You doing in me, with me, right now?
or
Lord what do You want of me right now?
To continually be connecting with Him throughout your day. Always being interested in His input in every aspect of your life. For once again, He promises us, as we remain close to Him, as we “are in Him,” He has good plans for us, an abundant life for us. (Jeremiah 29:11 – John 10:10)
Therefore, we should willingly be wanting His perspective, His advice. Including Him in every matter before us, always seeking His consul first and foremost.
Through the “leading” of the Holy Spirit within each of us.
Consul through His “word,” the Holy Scripture.
Through our spiritual family,
“the body of Christ”.
Also, we need to be growing in our learning
to obeying Him,
to trusting Him.
Always treating Him reverently, first as our Lord God, our Savior God, the one who went to the cross to purchase us. And what have we learned from what Jesus did at the cross? It was at that Cross, that our Triune God revealed;
His love toward us!
It is there that we see
our value,
our worth,
to Him.
For the fact is, He is the very God who created us and knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows what is best for each of us.
He truly is our:
“Our Father and our God”,
and what is amazing is that it is His desire to be our best friend, if we let Him.
What kind of friend will He be?
…a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Truly, being in our God and He being within us.
It is at that place that we will experience:
an Active,
Vibrant,
Abundant,
Intimate
relationship with Him.
And at that time we will find ourselves,
Satisfied,
Fulfilled
and
Content
living out the destiny our God has for each of us.
* * * *
* * *
* *
*