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  Apart From Me

Apart From Me

When it comes to being around others do you feel a part of or 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”.

Jesus draw me close

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.

Why then when we believe we are relying on God and staying close to Jesus do we still have so many struggles? This mystery of suffering can cause us to pull away from Jesus. Not because of rebellion, but rather because of hurt. We feel like we’ve been let down.

This is why Jesus warned us ahead of time that we should expect persecution for following him. This path is not always smooth. In the realm of spiritual warfare the enemy will do whatever possible to pull us away from the source of all power and life. God allows us to go through these troubles precisely in hope that we will rely on Him. He will demonstrate His power over darkness, through us and in a way that shines hope to others!

When we are in doubt, when we feel like darkness is all around, that is precisely the time to turn to God and ask the Holy Spirit to open our hearts to understanding. We pray earnestly for strength and for guidance. Peace will wash over us and we will be a vibrant branch alive on the vine, budding and blossoming and bearing great fruit.

Not Cliches

The praying is the vital part. This prayer must be more than mouthing a few well-worn phrases. It’s an honest, naked communion between your soul and God’s presence.

Just as dangerous to our union with God are the times when things are going so well that we begin to drift away. We get busy and our activity begins to separate us from our prayer life. Eventually, we are again seduced into thinking that on our own power—our self-propulsion—we can accomplish our goals and desires. Perhaps the troubles that come are God’s way of bringing us back to Him. It’s a course correction. Certainly I am praying more and turning my attention more to God when I am in trouble and need help.

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.



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

"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."
(NIV)
 
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