Thursday, April 11, 2013

'Tis best to abide (John 15:4)

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.  John 15:4

Ministry is hard. When you do it in the flesh, as we have all done, it is impossible. Sure... you can do the work, but ministering in a way that is fruitful and remains, no.

There is a sinister thing that happens along the way as we grow.  Believers young and old experience the valley of Spiritual Teenager-hood. You know, that horrible place where you know everything and have the best ideas. That time when "you can do it yourself". God, in His mercy and grace, does something we least expect... He leaves you be. Spiritual maturity does not come easily, but the road is necessary to get you there. Sure, there are u-turns, but fulfillment in Christ comes from abiding and trusting in Him.

"Anything done in our own strength will either fail miserably or succeed even more miserably." G.K. Chesterton