"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned." John 15

Do you struggle with living the life that Christ intends for you to live? Do you struggle with laziness, honesty, empathy? In John 15, Jesus says he is a fruit bearing tree and we are the branches that bear that fruit for him. God, the attentive gardener, takes care of his fruit tree and cuts off the branches that are dead on that tree. To be a part of Christ is to abide with him with a active healthy relationship. We honor Christ by bearing the fruit that his word has taught us.
To not reside in Christ is to open ourselves to struggles of choosing right or wrong in our way of living. Our minds, bodies and souls are more open to the contamination of corruptness. Like a growing disease that is not controlled, it will consume all of the body leading to spiritual death and, ultimately, the separation from God.

The greatest way to overcome life's struggles is to ask God for help and trust in him to lead us to success and victory. God doesn't expect us to face our struggles alone, we are but one branch of many connected to the tree of Jesus Christ. Not only is our relationship with Christ essential for victory, but a relationship with our faith community is very important as well. We can overcome any struggle we face when we keep our relationship with God and with each other alive.

Jesus looked at them and said, "This cannot be done by men. But with God all things can be done."
Matthew 19:26

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In John 15, Jesus puts us in a different perspective. He describes us as branches that branch from Him (the vine). This perspective is to help us understand the need we have for a connection with Jesus. A branch, obviously, can not stand on its own; it has to be attached to something that is grounded in order to grow or produce fruit. Jesus is the source of our growth and the fruit we produce.

Being connected to Jesus is a life long journey. I've been a "Christian" my whole life, but only began to connect with Jesus 4 years ago. From my experiences I've learned that it is hard to live the pure and holy life Jesus expects of us. Sometimes it seems so easy to just wander from the vine a little, but a branch can only be stretched so far on a vine before it snaps off. Although it is easier to wander, the feelings that I feel when I am connected to Jesus will always be far greater than any other pleasure this world can offer.

A connection with Jesus is vital in our lives; it gives us purpose, it gives us joy, it gives us life. Although life can be a struggle at times, stay close to Jesus, and all of your worries will finally be at peace. Amen.

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John 15:4 tells me what I already know, but have a hard time doing. It tells me that if I remain in Jesus, He will remain in me. I can do anything with Him, but nothing without Him. I have heard this over and over again, but I have a hard time living it. In the past, I have given all my burdens to Him and seen that anything is possible when I trust in Him.

Unfortunately, I let life interfere with my relationship with God. I am guilty of being too busy to fit God into my life. There are times when I don't feel that I am close with God and I tend to forget what He has done for me. I have a mental picture of a vine that John 15 describes. The vine stays ripe when it is properly nourished with water and sunlight. It produces fruit and does not wither away. Just as the vine grows when nourished, I am the same way. I have felt it. I have experienced what Jesus can do for me when I let him nourish me. I love the way that I feel when I allow Jesus into my life. When I am too busy to allow Him in, I feel like I am out of control. I am disappointed in myself for neglecting my relationship with Jesus. I can find all kinds of excuses, reasons, and justifications (in my mind) for doing this, but in the end I know it's because I think that I can do everything on my own. A few weeks ago, John asked the question, "What are you passionate about?" When he asked the question, it really made me think. Those that know me would probably tell you that I am passionate about my car, my favorite college football team, and my wife and kids. I am ashamed to say that they probably wouldn't say "the Lord." I don't feel like I'm as outwardly passionate about my relationship with the Lord as I am with the other things in my life. I need to rectify that and set my priorities straight.

There is a country song that speaks of living life in fast forward and the need to rewind. This is what I need to do to allow Jesus to have a bigger role in my life. I know that through him all things are possible because I have experienced it. Somewhere along the way I have neglected my relationship with Him and try to do things my way (again). I know that when I am with the Lord and allow him into my life, He is providing me with the sustenance I need to grow and be an example of his love and mercy.

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