Success surely happens…
Providence – Prosperity – Success
Providence, Prosperity, Success, Abundant Mindset,
Success is not…
To begin a worthy endeavor…
You can build a monumental life…
KNOW – Why, When, Who, How and DO!
The ultimate connection or disconnection
Verse 5 “.. apart from me you can do nothing”
This sounds like a strong statement. What does He mean by “nothing?” Let us break this sentence down some more.
The Greek word for “you can” is “dynasthe” which means to be powerful or have the power or the ability.
The Greek word for “do” is “poiein” which means to make, manufacture, construct, to act, or cause.
The Greek word for “nothing” is “ouden” which means, no one, none, nothing.
Therefore, the sentence translates as, I am powerless to do anything without Jesus. I am incapable of bearing fruit that resembles him if I am not attached to Him. I cannot have his DNA in me if I am not connected to Him, therefore cannot bear fruit that is in His likeness. I may bear other fruit in my life but not Jesus fruit.
To be disconnected would mean to get dismember-ed from the Vine. The analogy is two fold, individual, and corporate. This not only affects your relationship with Jesus but with one another as well. We are all a part of the body with many parts joined to each other and the head. We will look at this some more later.
This abiding is 24/7. It is not something we can or should switch on and off. We do not abide with Christ just on a Sunday morning and for 15 minutes every morning. We are abiding with Jesus at work, home, school, etc. When I was a mother of young children with a church and business to manage, there was never any free time. My kitchen became the place where I met with God. When I worked, I had worship music on and I could connect with the Holy Spirit as I bent over my art ( my business was hand-made greeting cards at the time)
We need to live from a Kingdom perspective in order to abide in Christ. This requires practice and intentionality. Jesus lived in constant commune with His Father. He did not do anything apart from His Father. Then He tells us to abide in Him in the same manner and tells us that apart from Him we can do nothing! In Acts 17:28 we are reminded that it is in Him we live, move, and have our being!
It is about being God-conscious. He becomes our frame of reference for everything we do.
It is a wonderful and secure way to live. When I live from His presence and act from His presence, I will begin to reflect His qualities. I have been made a new creation that has the ability to reflect His nature now. I will have God’s thoughts, Christ-like thought patterns that think more about others than myself.
REFLECT AND ASK YOURSELF|
Describe your relationship with Jesus. Is it relational or transactional?
Do I take Jesus to work with me or when I am with my friends?
“I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing.”
John 15:5 BSB
Be before Do
God & Money – Hebrews 13:5
My Pondering
Money is important but God is everything. We can NOT serve both as God as said.
God is the source and money is a re-source. Only fools chase resources verse abiding (remaining) close and focused on the Source.
We are wise when we love God and people while using money verse the materialistic alternative; trying to use God and people while loving money.
Providence is a word that was commonly used centuries ago. The likes of George Washington often use this wonderful word. Providence speaks to this verse and it’s worth studying.
It’s human nature to look for shortcuts,…
If you know these things… John 13:17
My Pondering
“If you know these things,
you will be blessed
if you do them.”
John 13:17 BSB
Here in this passage, Jesus promises us blessings. Who doesn’t want to be blessed?
The first thing that jumps out to me is the BIG two letter word that’s in this twice: IF
“If you know” because ignorance is usually lame and knowledge is a good start but is far from complete.
The second IF is “if you do”. Do you see the ‘you’ in there? I know it’s kind of hard to miss but so many Christians don’t want to put their effort into something. They all too often say a brief prayer or two and leave it like that.
That’s not what God usually expects. He expects us to serve and not recline. Not that there arent times to rest and relax but it means that we should do plenty of the right kind of work, to work with knowledge and a higher purpose, to serve God and others.
God promises to feed the birds but He doesn’t drop worms in their nests. Mama bird needs to fly, find and return to feed her babies. Then the babies grow and do the same.
If we expect a crop, it takes plowing, planting and harvest. It doesn’t happen without work. Yes, God made the dirt, seeds and is does the growing but we have our part too. For the Good Book tells is if we sow sparingly, we will reap sparingly. Vice versa. The Golden Rule is God’s rule.
Check out this leadership admonition:
“A dispute also arose among the disciples as to which of them would be considered the greatest. So Jesus declared, “The kings of the Gentiles Lord it over them, and those in authority over them call themselves benefactors. But you shall not be like them. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who leads like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines? But I am among you as one who serves.
You are the ones who have stood by Me in My trials.
And I bestow on you a kingdom, just as My Father has bestowed one on Me,”
Luke 22:24-29 BSB
So if serve well, if we persevere, if we stand by and support God then He promises is a kingdom life, an eternal one.
I heard this saying the other day, and want to share here:
