Stay Connected To The Savior
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you" (John 15:1-7).
Thought For Today:
To abide in Christ is to be in union with Him. It is to dwell in Him completely. The limb is attached to the tree and the branches are on the limb. The closer the limb is to the tree, the bigger and the stronger it is. At the end of a tree's limb is where most of the branches are and where the fruit grows. To prevent the limb from breaking off due to the weight of the fruit, a farmer will trim back the branches from the limb. Jesus said, "He purgeth it." Sometimes, in the process of evangelizing, certain members or churches can have a quicker success rate than others. However, this can also lead to pride, causing them to forget that their arrogance and actions can cause them to break away from the vine, and ultimately lead to their destruction. As a result, God may start pruning some of the branches. Although some may attribute this to the devil when members begin to leave the church, it could actually be God's way of saying that their actions will destroy the vine. Therefore, He cuts them off to protect the growth process. It can be difficult to accept when people walk away, but sometimes it is for the best. We must trust in God's plan and see it as a way for Him to prune the vineyard. Think about it, if they begin attending another church it may be God’s way of making them start over so that the growth process is healthy and favorable” There may be instances where an individual's actions or words, or even the influence of the devil, lead to someone leaving a church. But also consider today’s thoughts and be determined to stay as close as possible to the savior.
