NOURISHING THE SOUL FOR PUBLIC WITNESS
Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing.
John 15:5 (NLT)
The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.
Acts 4:13 (NLT)
Many years ago, I was introduced to a retired Pastor named Bill O’Brien. After an afternoon of swapping stories, Pastor Bill invited me to look at an unusual tree growing in his backyard. Upon further examination, I discovered that this single tree produced multiple varieties of apples. It turns out that he had painstakingly grafted the branches of different types of apple trees onto a single host. The key was to line up the green cadmium layer of the host tree with the adopted branches and then allow enough time for the sap to flow. Sap is the lifeblood of trees. It allows the life of the host to flow directly into its adopted members, and they bear fruit.
God uses this picture of grafting to describe our relationship with Christ. In fact, Jesus said that the bearing of spiritual fruit is to My Father’s glory (John 15:8 ESV). You don’t need to jump through spiritual hoops to bear spiritual fruit. We simply need to be connected to God. After all, His life flowing in our veins gives us the power to be His disciples. Don’t be fooled into thinking that the amount of time you spend reading or praying makes you effective (Matthew 6:7-8, 2 Corinthians 12:8). This makes the results about our performance and not on the One who gives us His Spirit. Instead, we need to focus on spiritual practices that foster reliance on the power and presence of God.
APPLICATION: Before starting your day with all kinds of activities, sit silently before God for a few minutes. Ask Him to fill your mind with the awareness of His presence. Ask Him to bring you divine appointments today to bear witness to Him. Ask Him to put His thoughts in your mind and to empower you to do what you cannot do on your own.
PRAYER: Lord, I recognize that every assignment You give me today is a gift from You. Please help me not squander what you have entrusted to me on self-glory. Help me rely on Your power and leading today.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?