I was reading in John 15 this week and something kind of jumped out at me. Something I’ve seen many times before but hadn’t noticed.

Exchanged life option

I’ve written much about the Exchanged Life and how we can appropriate it in our personal life. The freedom it brings when we realize we don’t have to be who we were raised to be. We can find freedom from thought patterns. We can find freedom from addictions. We can discover a new life as we learn to die to self.

Learning how the life of Christ in us can completely change us, our whole outlook on life can be different. Seeing we don’t have to measure up brings great relief to many of us trying so hard to be a good Christian.

Jesus tells us in John 15 that He is the vine and we are the branches. All we need we get from His life. We have been grafted into the life of His vine. Everything we need to make us a strong and fruitful branch He provides with His life flowing into us. Many possibilities. And if we keep His commandments we will abide (live) in His love. That sounds like a good place to be.

So what got my attention so forcefully?

It seems like all this teaching, the truth of it, the joy it can bring has been received as if it were a choice. For instance, if we want a really spiritual life we can appropriate His life. But if we don’t want to, well we will still be born again, just not very fruitful. True?

Jesus said, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine.” That sounds like a command to me. He didn’t say, “if you want.”

Going back to John 14 Jesus says, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words.” And couple of verses earlier He says, “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me.”

Is it a choice?

See what I mean? Then go a little further in chapter 15 where Jesus says, “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.” 15:6

To me, it doesn’t seem like a choice. Before, it seemed like a choice. Now it doesn’t. Are we just fooling ourselves if we think getting a ticket to heaven is all there is? Then we can live like we want, to be as spiritual as we want. What do you think?

Personally, I don’t want to disrespect the Lord of the universe by minimizing the meaning of His words. I want to be 100% His. I want to obey Him. Will you join me in making this choice?

Maybe we can talk further about what it means to abide in Him.

Prayer – Lord God, may we see the connection we have with You through Jesus, Your Son. Everything we need is from His life in us. We have no right to live a disconnected life, a life on our own if we are yours. Amen

Abiding In Christ – How Important Is It?

Thoughts on Being a Branch  Anabel Gillham

Words to light your path this week –

John 15:5 I am the vine,you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

John 15:4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

John 14:23-24 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words.

John 14:21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me.

John 15:10 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.

Scriptures from New King James Version

Remember – Take one scripture each day and meditate on it the whole day. Let it transform your life.