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Apart From Me |
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Article by Tom Gilbert
— © Living the Solution
When it comes to being around others
do you feel a part of or apart from?
A Part of Apart From?
No matter how much we may convince ourselves that we don't
need or want fellowship God knows that's not true. We
were created for each other, for community. God desires
a relationship with us, so much so that He sent Jesus
to bring us back to Him and to make it possible for us
to have the rich reward of eternal life with God. Part
of the beauty of God's fellowship with us is how it is
accomplished by our interaction with other people.
In John
15:5 Christ tells us, "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".
This scripture verse is incredibly rich. What does it
tell us? For one, Jesus is telling us the secret of unity.
When we are united to God in three persons, we are part
of the answered prayer to "be one just as you and
I are one". Being part of the divine consciousness
makes us whole. No longer are we isolated and operating
on our own power. We are part of the great stream of living
water!
Divine Vine
Another significant revelation of the verse is that God
desires to work through us. Again the mysterious power
of the Trinity expresses itself. The Holy Spirit comes
and dwells in us and empowers us with gifts that bring
about good. We are branches connected to the divine vine.
Why be connected? Look to Psalm 16. Verse 2 is
"I said to the LORD, 'You are my Lord; apart from
you I have no good thing'." Further on, verses 7-9:
"I will praise the LORD , who counsels me;
even at night my heart instructs me.
I have set the LORD always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken."
Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest secure,"
Also, Proverbs 3:5 - "Trust in the Lord with
all your heart and do not rely on your own insight".
Slip Sliding Away
Not only does God desire the most intimate relationship
possible with us, He also has the power that enables us
to live life to the fullest. As soon as we stray even
the tiniest bit from Jesus then we are relying to some
extent on our own knowledge, our own power. Compromise
is subtle. And deadly.
.The key to living is to stay connected, in good times
and bad. No wonder we are instructed to rejoice always,
give praise and thanks and to keep our eyes on Jesus.
Don't be a part from. Be apart of.
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| Tom Gilbert is
a writer and spiritual seeker who edits and maintains
the Living the Solution web site. You may reprint this
article as long as you give credit and a link back to
www.livingthesolution.com |
Scripture taken from the
Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.Copyright ©
1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights
reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International
Bible Society.
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered
trademarks of International Bible Society. Use of either
trademark for the offering of goods or services requires
the prior written consent of International Bible Society.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy
Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996. Used
by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton,
IL 60189, USA. All rights reserved.
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PSALM
16:7-9
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"I will praise the
LORD , who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs
me. I have set the LORD always before me. Because he
is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore
my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also
will rest secure."
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(NIV)
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