Growing up, my grandparents grew grapes in their backyard. They had a tall white grape arbor that the grape vines would wrap around. There was nothing like the taste of fresh grapes pulled off the vine just as they ripened. But there was a problem--birds. The birds would come just before the grapes got ripe and carry them away. My grandfather put up netting, scare crows, and anything else he could think of, but some how those birds still found a way to get some of the grapes. They pulled the grapes off the vines before they were edible. In John 15 Jesus uses the analogy of grapes and their vines to show how we need to stay connected to Christ, who is the vine (v5). Staying connected or "abiding" as Jesus put it (v4) is critical if we want...
- our prayers answered (v7)
- a fruitful life as His disciples (v8)
- lasting joy (v11)
- strength in the midst of persecution and rejection (vv18-25)
But how do we stay connected? "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love," Jesus said in verse 10. In my book Maxpoint: Your Journey to Maximum Significance I detail how Christ's commands deal with nine areas: salvation, evangelism, missions, relationships, heart issues, daily living, spiritual victory, vigilance, and persecution. If we can obey Christ in these areas, then we will enjoy an abiding walk with Christ and all the benefits that come with it. Let's stop the birds of this life from pulling us away from the Vine! Let's learn to walk in obedience.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.
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