CONNECTED

They were all gathered in the sanctuary all 106 students, parents, host homes and leaders.  Those that participated had on matching red shirts that on the back read a scripture from John.    You could feel the spiritual high that was in the room from the weekend.  House party convenes once a year in our small town.  This one weekend brings many kids to Jesus.  After the weekend is over we all pray that it isn’t just something that will only last a few days, but a lifetime. 

The vine, how do we stay connected to it?  The best way is to check in with God everyday.  Begin your day with His truth.  His truth is located within His word.  Within the pages of the Bible you can find any and everything you need.  When we read, this book of wisdom, we will find directions on how to live a life with Christ. 

John 15 tells us that He is the vine and we are His branches.  We are to stay connected to Him.  If we detach ourselves we will wither and do nothing.  When we are connected to Him we will be more fruitful.  When we are attached to Him we can love and with this love we can do wonders.  When love is in our hearts we will find pure joy.  Joy within the midst of any situation and circumstance we are dealing with. 

One of my friend’s mothers has Alzheimer’s.  A news station interviewed her dad and recorded a news segment on how he takes care of his wife everyday.  From putting on her lotion to her pearls he brings back the woman that he has known for many years.  Beauty remains within the walls of a dreaded disease.  This woman may not recognize or know her husband, but he still knows her.  Love at its finest is shown throughout this story.

God loves us just as this husband loves his wife.  Even though she doesn’t know him he recognizes her. 

When I look at all the students involved in the weekend I relate to them as the mother with alzheimers.  More than likely there will be a time in their life when they don’t know God or they push God away.  They may not recognize God.  But just like the husband God loves them anyway.  He is there for them.  God chooses them from the beginning whether they choose Him or not.  God just hopes that when and if these students disconnect from the vine those of us within His church will bring them back to Him. 

If you are having a difficult time with life and you are at a place where you don’t recognize God He still recognizes you.  He wants you to stay connected to the vine.  On another note if you are reading this and you know of someone that needs to be led back to the vine step out and grab them.  Bring them back to Him so that they can be fruitful.  It is our promise to God to make lifelong Christians.  Be the hands and feet of Christ, it is our job. 

John 15 New International Version (NIV)

The Vine and the Branches

15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He 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. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also 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 you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.