Away we go...in 4 days

1"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5"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. 6If 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. 7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
-John 15:1-8


Well...Only four more days until I step into the unknown on the other side of the world. I have been feeling very calm, and collected as the excitement builds toward going to Jordan. I admit, the past week has not been the easiest. It is easy to be lazy, and to fall into a comfortable pattern. That pattern is not always the best, and healthiest.
As I was at church with my parents today, the person preaching today talked of the passage from John 15. Too often, this passage is used, and used, and sometimes loses its luster. This passage is powerful, and speaks of how our daily lives ought to function as we follow Christ. Several quotes stick out to me:

"apart from me, you can do nothing."
"every branch that does not bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful."

I found both of these very convicting. Apart from Christ in my life, I am powerless, and can do nothing. My own pride and self-sufficiency mean nothing, but only the divine power of Christ living in me is who gives me my identity.
In addition, it is interesting in reading that the parts of us that don't bear fruit God will clean/prune, so that they can be be made fruitful. There are definitely areas of life in me that continually need pruning so that everything I do might be pleasing to God. Daily, I must ask God to be my source of strength and as Colossians 3:1-4 speaks of, we are to set our minds on things that are above. Likewise, Jesus speaks of storing our treasures in heaven, and not in the things of earth (Matthew 6:19-25).
Are you abiding in God in everything? Where in your life do you need God to prune you so that you may be fruitful?

As you are praying this week, I ask that you would pray for safe travels. Also, I ask that you would pray that God would continue to prepare my heart and that I would abide in God as I make this step of faith into the Middle East. Pray that my words and actions would be from God, and that they would be fruitful as I seek to spread that Gospel.

-Grace and Peace