At the center of all that is living is the One who created and gives all there is to life. It is a gift of grace from our Creator to be given a life to live. It is a gift of grace to be given a new life as a follower of Christ; forgiven and free from our sin as we are redeemed and sanctified as we live out our days. Most of all, it is an indescribable gift of grace to be given life eternal. All that is life from everlasting to everlasting comes from the “Creator” of life … who is the “Vine” of all that is new life in Christ.
Christ desires that we live our lives drawing from Him as the source of all substance and life. “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” (NIV Bible, John 15:5). We live as the body of Christ, alive in the life He gives us in His saving and sanctifying us. It is His love that we are drawing our life from, and it is His love that flows through us into the lives of others. This is the most important part of our living as the branches of the vine. This happens as we love others and the world around us. It is what He desires most of all and it is what He states will be the defining mark of His Body, the Church. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (NIV Bible, John 13:34-35).
We cannot fake this love, nor can we try with our best intentions to truly love this way. Our love has to come as Christ’s love flows through us giving us His life and facilitating the flow of His love to others. If we love Christ above all else, we fully let His Spirit flow in us and through us, it will change our lives and those around us. May we be true “Branches” on the true “Vine” of all that is life and all that gives life.
Connected to Christ Bible Reading – John 13 – 15
