January 26
‘Jesus replied, ‘What is impossible with man is possible with God.’’ Luke 18:27
Bible reading: John 15:1-8 (Go to the Bible passage)
Jesus said, ‘Remain in Me, as I also remain in you’ (:4).
This is a commandment of Jesus. But have you ever met someone who can testify that he has always remained in the Lord Jesus, that he did never go a way of his own? No, you will say, that is just impossible, we are only human, are we not?
God has called us to bear fruit and if we do not, we will be cut off the vine. Many people therefore do their utmost best to do something good for Jesus… But, o, how terribly difficult it is in this world, to share even a small part of the gospel with others! Difficult? O no, it is impossible, unless...
Have you ever seen a blossoming branch in a vase bearing fruit? Of course not! For that is impossible. Likewise we cannot bear fruit for Jesus if we do not remain in Him like a branch in the vine. Like the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, so we cannot bear fruit for the Kingdom if the life of Jesus is not flowing through us. A blossoming branch in a vase may display the beginning of fructification, but it will never bear ripe fruit.
Since we often burn in passion for religious activities of all sorts without remaining in the heartfelt communion with the living Lord, there may be something which seems to be the beginning of fruit, but it will never grow to full ripeness.
Through the generations we have grown accustomed to this, but if deep down we feel troubled about it, we have cause to thank God for that. For then also today the words from the Bible will be words of deliverance and will make us bear fruit.

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