Dear Friends,

"Apart from me you can do nothing". This very direct statement of Jesus is a deep and important one. It comes in the chapter where Jesus illustrates the believers relationship to himself by likening himself to the vine and the believer to the branch of the vine. The reference is John 15:5.

The picture is vivid and clear. The believing Christian is so joined to Christ by faith, that he becomes one with Christ, united to him, just as the branch is united to the vine as part of the vine. Because of the union, Christ's divine and holy life flows into the Christian. By Christ's life we are changed in the beauty of holiness that is in Jesus, and we are able to be used by Jesus in his service. These two things are the fruit we are meant to bring forth.

Jesus says, "Apart from me you can do nothing". We can't produce any spiritual fruit. We can't grow in holiness ourselves, nor can we serve Jesus in our strength. We may strive to be good but we will not achieve much. We can be active in service but know no blessing. Holiness and blessing in service is by Christ's divine life, not ours.

The point I'm making is that we do not produce fruit in our Christian lives by our efforts, helped by the Lord. Our growth in holiness is not our effort, helped by the Lord; nor is our service, our ability strengthened by the Lord. "Apart from me you can do nothing" means our ability and strength is of no avail. He must save and he alone. If we think our efforts achieve anything or avail in any degree, then we are not abiding in Christ, we are abiding in some degree in ourselves.

The thought I am seeking to get across is perhaps made clear by how we understand the words of Jesus in Matthew 11:29 -- "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me". Most seem to feel that this means that we are side-by-side with Jesus in the yoke, and Jesus is pulling the plough with us -- helping us in our lives. But this is not what Jesus says. He is saying that he is the ploughman. The yoke we must put on is the yoke of the plough he is driving.

I am not advocating or teaching that the Christian is passive and does nothing, either to be holy or to serve Christ, but I believe we need to change our understanding of the direction and application of the effort we put into our Christian living.

The only life and power that achieves anything is the life of the Vine (Jesus) flowing unimpeded into us (the branches). Our efforts to mortify the flesh and to serve Jesus, lies in making every effort to abide in Jesus and remove all hindrances to the life that flows from him, flowing in us and working in and through us.

Jesus is the only life and power that achieves anything in the spiritual realm. Our life and power is worthless. His is all the glory and the praise. Our business is to make sure his life finds no impediment in us preventing his free operation.

Abiding and remaining in Jesus is an active thing. We seek first and foremost to submit totally and unreservedly to his authority as Lord over us. He must guide the plough of our lives, and we must see that we are so submissive under his yoke, that we put no impediment in the way of his guidance, direction and call.

We further abide in him by opening our hearts and minds to him in his word. This means submitting to his word; believing his word; obeying his word; and spending time meeting with Jesus in his word.

We are abiding in Jesus also as we seek to put to death at all our evil and corrupt affections, which hinder his life flowing into us, and causing us to turn away from his fellowship, and to grieve the Holy Spirit.

Abiding in Jesus is to crucify self and ruthlessly put down all pride and vain glory. Feeling and knowing ourselves as totally worthless before God is to be abiding in real grace. Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth. To know our worthlessness before God means we will be leaning upon him, trusting in him, listening to him, going to him, praying to him, seeking him and resting upon him totally. In this place we abide in his love and are blest with his love and peace. The wonder of his grace to sinners will be our abiding joy and everlastingly reward. The name of Jesus will be so sweet to us. He will be precious to us.

In this abiding he will be totally free to change us into his image, for pride will not get in the way. He will be able to choose us to be a blessing to others, because there will be no stealing of his glory.

Pray that the Spirit may teach you the meaning of "Apart from me you can do nothing", and that he may deepen your understanding day by day, and that experimentally you may live in the knowledge of it.

Your servant for Christ's sake,