I’m on Day 4 of reading “Abiding in Christ” by Andrew Murray. Great Author. Great book so far.
Fourth Day – “Abide in Christ” : As the Brach in the Vine
Great chapter on a really great passage. I posted an entry back in Nov 2006 called “Remaining IN” on this very passage.
“The branch, whether an original or an engrafted one, is such only by the Creator’s own work, in virtue of which the life, the sap, the fatness and the fruitfulness of the vine communicate themselves to the branch. … The same Spirit which dwelt and still dwells in the Son becomes the life of the believer; in the unity of that one Spirit, and the fellowship of the same life which is in Christ, he is ONE with Him. As between the vine and branch, it is a life-union that makes them one.”
The thought “… is such only by the Creator’s own work,” really hit me. I often fail to remember that I had nothing to do with this. My salvation came only through God’s effort and plans and work.
I’m not a viticulturist, but I think I’ve seen enough National Geographic shows to understand that grafting branches into a vine is no easy feat. It takes work, preparation and care by the one doing the grafting, especially of the newly grafted branch is going to produce fruit.
The vine produces fruit through the branches, the branches need the vine to produce fruit. God chooses to use us “branches” to demonstrate his fruit on earth. Murray states, “The branch does not exist for itself, but it exists to bear fruit that can proclaim the excellence of the vine.” How’s that for a mission statement!
I exist to proclaim the excellence of the Vine!
Running After Papa…