Not Good If Detached

“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

After horrendous experiences in the Nazi death camps during World War II, Corrie ten Boom became a roving evangelist, taking the message of Christ to the world. In bringing her story to the United States, she frequently traveled by rail. She noticed that the train tickets were perforated in the middle. The whole ticket had to be presented to the attendant who then separated it. In prominent letters on each ticket were the words: "Not Good if Detached."

That became the title of Corrie's book about John 15 and the reality of abiding in Christ. A branch must be connected to the vine for the sap to flow uninterrupted and for the fruit to appear. If it is severed, it withers and dies. It cannot bear fruit on its own.

Our daily connection with Christ allows the Holy Spirit to flow through us, producing the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Christ-like qualities come as a result of our relationship with Christ, and we become more like Him by spending time with Him in abiding fellowship in His Word and simple trust. Are you "attached"?

From Turning Point

“The secret of the life of Jesus was his contact with God; again and again He withdrew into a solitary place to meet Him. We must keep in contact with Jesus. We cannot do that unless we deliberately take steps to do so….abiding in Christ will mean arranging life, prayer and silence in such a way that there is never a day when we give ourselves a chance to forget Him.

“….We also note that there are two things laid down about the good disciple in this passage in John 15:1-10. First, he enriches his own life; his contact makes him a fruitful branch. Second, he brings glory to God; the sight of his life turns men’s thoughts to the God who made him like that. God is glorified when we bear much fruit and show ourselves to be disciples of Jesus. The greatest glory of the Christian life is that by our life and conduct we can bring glory to God.

William Barclay