"THE WEEKLY WORD"

Apart from me, you can do nothing! -John 15:5

          I know, before some of you bible aficionados tell me, I didn’t use the whole verse here, you’re absolutely right. Why? Because I feel like this phrase often gets overlooked. We think about Jesus being the fruit, and the vine, and everything we bear in this world. We love that part; we connect with that part.

          However, the part that’s a bit uncomfortable in my mind for us to consider is the second part of this verse. Apart from me, you can do nothing, Jesus says. Oh, my goodness! Nothing at all! Yes, nothing at all! For us as believers, that is simply the case. Yes, we have that little thing called free will. But if we’re truly believers, apart from him, we should absolutely be doing nothing.

          The plans we make, if they are not directed somehow by him just somehow have a way of flopping, don’t they? I know I’ve found that in my own life! One of my friends I knew well whose gone now sadly always said, you just can’t get ahead of God. And he was absolutely right! I have seen more and more as I live, I just cannot do anything without Jesus guiding my path. Although yes, I try to do so much without him. And sometimes, I want to do stuff on my own, I don’t want to be guided by Jesus. And yet, I must remember, without Jesus, I wouldn’t be here, I wouldn’t be breathing, I wouldn’t be able to have all the emotions and activities and experiences and connections with people I have. It’s so easy to forget all that when I’m focused on the concerns of the day or the month or the next year or the big picture. I always want to remember, without Jesus, apart from him, I can do nothing, and I am nothing!

          So, I hope as you go about your week, you are able to live that way. I hope you’re able to rejoice in saying, Jesus is everything to me. It’s not a scary thing, although some would say it is. For us, it should be a joyful thing. Praise God for Jesus, who gives us everything, and who blesses us beyond our wildest dreams and expectations. Praise God for Jesus who shatters norms and pushes us beyond what we think is comfortable to find true moments where we tread on holy ground.

          May our lives be ones where we say thank you to God for Jesus. And may we continue to remember, even on our worst days Jesus is with us, and apart from him, we can do nothing. Jesus will be a part of our success and failure. Jesus will be a part of our joy and sorrow. Jesus will be part of our everything. Jesus will be in everyone we meet. And Jesus will even be in us. What a joy! What a blessing! Even when you’re weary, don’t worry, and even when you worry, don’t be weary. Jesus is with you and will always be your all in all!

To God be the glory

Pastor Brandon