As the quarantine was declared over the country I found myself having much more free time. This opened up many hours to spend with God. I felt a prompting in my heart to stay in the book of John, chapter 15. I was happy to settle there because that passage is one of my favorites.
A couple of weeks passed by and I started to feel a bit quarantined in my Bible without the freedom to travel through the pages. I wasn’t getting any deep revelation out of the chapter. My understanding didn’t increase. I looked at vines, its branches and I read different translations of the passage. Nothing.
However, I felt that there is something significant I’m missing… Yet I couldn’t see past the surface.
Maybe it was a test of endurance or maybe God wanted me to learn the scriptures by heart. I don’t know. Nevertheless, one afternoon a question popped up in my heart: ‘Why did Jesus tell all of this?’
‘It describes relations!’ I shouted amazed at the Eureka moment. Jesus spoke about the relation between the farmer and the vine as well as the relation between the vine and the branches!
I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. <…> I am the true vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. (John 15: 1; 5–6 ESV)
Jesus describes us as branches and Himself as the true vine. The relation here is the connection which makes the branches fruitful. If the connection is lost, the branches wither and… go up in flames. But have no fear! We are the ones choosing to stay connected or not.
The natural outcome of abiding in the vine is fruitfulness. Fruit doesn’t come by effort but by staying in the vine. In other words, the branch has a continuous relationship with the vine.
How does that look like practically?
I’m glad you asked!
We all have people we are in a relationship with. How did we create that relationship? By getting to know each other. How did we get to know each other? By spending time together. How do we… Oh, yes!
Friendships are built on familiarities or things in common between the two sides. We relate to something we identify with. For instance, an experience that somebody shares touches you because you can relate to it, identify yourself with it. That’s where the connection takes place!
Let me share an event in my life as an illustration.
Almost a decade ago I started serving God by doing practical things at churches and Christian communities. I was using my talents and gifts that God gave me. The service was giving me a lot of joy.
Unfortunately, after a good number of months, I completely lost the flavor. Serving God became a burden and I wasn’t looking forward to it anymore. After struggling and pushing myself for a couple of weeks I turn to God with questions in my heart. Why my passion disappeared in serving Him, why things that gave me so much joy and satisfaction became so dull and so heavy?
It took only a sentence for God to get the point across. That day I heard His clear voice in my heart saying: I don’t need your ministry, but I want to spend time with you.
I took me by surprise. Until that time I’ve not been spending quiet time with God. I didn’t know anything about the relationship with God! After He spoke to me I understood one simple truth: He wants to spend time with me. He wants that connection. The Father’s will is that we bear much fruit!
I don’t think we should disregard spending time with God only because we don’t sense Him by our senses. He lives in our hearts by faith. Also, He promised to never leave us nor forsake us. Is He not present if we don’t feel it? I don’t think so. If the Word was true when it was written, it’s true today as well!
Dear reader, the Father is very near; He loves you and wants friendship. He wanted you back from the kingdom of darkness and that is the very reason why through Jesus He destroyed the wall of separation. What was the goal?! It was a relationship, not the work or ministry. We get to work and minister because after knowing Him personally we desire to let everyone else know about this Great and Awesome God.
And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. (John 17:3, ESV)
