grace covered, full of hope.

john 15
I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch of mine that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the 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.

There is in the Vine such fullness, the care of the divine Husbandman is so sure of success, that the much fruit is not a demand but the simple promise of what must come to the branch that lives in the double abiding- he in Christ, and Christ in him. “The same bringeth forth much fruit” (John 15:15 KJV). It is certain.

Have you ever noticed the difference in the Christian life between work and fruit? A machine can do work; only life can bear more fruit. A law can compel work; only love can spontaneously bring forth fruit. Work implies effort and labor; the essential idea of fruit is that it is the silent, natural, restful produce of our inner life. The gardener may labor to give his apple tree the digging and manuring, the watering and pruning it needs; he can do nothing to produce the apple: the tree bears its own fruit. So it is in the Christian life: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace.” The healthy life bears much fruit. The connection between work and fruit is perhaps best seen in the expression “fruitful in every good work” (Colossians 1:10). It is only when good works come as the fruit of the indwelling Spirit that they are acceptable to God. Under the compulsion of law and conscience, or the influence of inclination and zeal, men may be most diligent in good works, and yet find that they have but little spiritual result. There can be no reason but this- their works are man’s effort, instead of being the fruit of the Spirit, the restful, natural outcome of the Spirit’s operation within us.

Let all workers come and listen to our holy Vine as He reveals the law of sure and abundant fruitfulness: “He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit.” The gardener cares for one thing- the strength and healthy life of his tree; the fruit follows of itself. If you would bear fruit, see that the inner life is perfectly right, that your relation to Christ Jesus is clear and close.

Andrew Murray

you tell me to obey, I trust you enough to push past all of the doubt. skepticism and fear bring their bags to my doorstep, and they come knocking. like keys in the ignition i will find my escape from the ’sin that so easily entangles’ me. i am ready to run away from this life of selfishness and complacency.

what i know is that somewhere in this big wide world, God hears and cares for His children. it’s impossible to fathom the pain of a creator and a father watching his kids run and fight to make ends meet, only to lose themselves to the simple obstacles in this life.

i don’t know heaven, and i’ve only lived a mere twenty-two years. so that makes me impoverished in my experience, but innocent in my soul.

i will run with that. i’m okay with that.

what one may view as inexperience, i view as simple open spaces. i don’t want to become callous all because i’m gaining the world and losing the very thing that restores me. selah.

let it be known that God still loves the saint and the sinner- that God still calls the great and the weak. i cannot live with all of the dichomotomies, the ups and downs of life, the confusion; unless there is a purpose to it all.

i know that my words will often get in the way. i’m sure i will make mistakes along the way. but i am ready for the challenge. i am ready to step up to life’s greatest adventure. giving everything for one thing. agape.

it is said that without fear a man can do anything. but i also believe that without hope a man can do nothing. i’ll chase the sun until there is nothing left in me.

moments will come and go, voices will fade, and the earth will continue to spin. but life, true life- is a gift [every moment] and the pain will not keep me in the dark for long.

Jesus teach me to be like you. I don’t know what else to say.

four discoveries:

1. spiritual growth comes only from small acts of obedience. there are no sudden instantaneous changes that can come from a place of disobedience.

2. God’s Word is specific, definite, and true. Period. no matter how culture changes, God’s Word remains.

3. love is the ultimate, the best form of worship here on earth while we wait for Christ to come. we love through our actions, we love through our words, we love through embracing the Kingdom and allowing others to embrace this joy.

4. being spiritually content often means doing the difficult things- fighting against stagnance, fighting against our own laziness.