Apart From Me You Can Do Nothing

Here are some thoughts from the devotional I did for homeschool coop:

John 15:1-11

“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.”

First we want to see how important Jesus is. He is the source of life for the branches! What happens if the branches do not remain in the vine? They wither and die. What if the branches remain? They bear much fruit. Notice the huge contrast: dying vs. bearing much fruit!

What does it mean to abide or remain? Verses 3 and 7 give us a clue. “Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.” and “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” We need to be listening to and believing Jesus' words and praying to him.

“Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” This last part of verse 5 has made an impression on me for a long time: “apart from me you can do nothing.” I know there are a lot of things I think I can do without God. I'd like to think that, but it is simply not true! God made me to begin with, and “he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.” (from Acts 17:25). When I am desperate and feeling needy I cry out to him for help. But other times I feel confident and competent in my abilities. “I got this, God”- I don't really say that, but I show that I feel that way by my lack of dependence and crying out to him. Even with the devotions I am doing – I feel comfortable with them. But I know from scripture that apart from God's work through his Holy Spirit, my efforts will be useless and fruitless, and could even be harmful if I am giving others the impression that I can do it all without God. So every time I pray, “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:14

"Abide in me, and I in you.”