The Daily Word of Righteousness

The Great Design, #13

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. (John 15:5)

God has planted a Vine. We are the branches. If we are fruitful in the world, when we die God will continue to minister to us so throughout eternity we may bear the fruit He desires. If we waste our days on the earth, when we die we will face an angry God. God will deal with us according to our laziness and disobedience.

If we are not faithful in small responsibilities we will not be given a greater opportunity and responsibility in the Kingdom of God.

Christ is the only true Vine. Our task is to continue to abide in Him each day. Each day, abiding in Him is more difficult than it was on the preceding day because He steps up to a higher level. The Master is setting us free from all sin and all self-centeredness and bringing us into union with Himself. It requires all the consecration of which we are capable in order to keep up with the daily lessons and challenges.

We do not have to strive to bear fruit. We do have to strive to be found in Christ. As long as we continue abiding in Christ we will continue to bear fruit naturally. The world, Satan, and our sin and self-will are always attempting to prevent our abiding in Christ. We battle against these enemies by the wisdom and power of the Spirit of God.

We must continue in prayer, in the Word, and in diligent devotion to Jesus if we expect to have the strength to continue abiding in the Vine. The rewards go to the victors.

Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. (John 15:16)

Every member of the Seed of Abraham was known to God before the creation of the world. We have been chosen to bear fruit. We have been ordained to bear in ourselves the righteous, holy, obedient image of Christ.

Christians today are seeking power from God. Power is not our goal, our goal is image, union, and fruitfulness. If we are fruitful, God will answer our prayers. Then we will have power and dominion.

Image makes union possible. Union makes fruitfulness possible. Fruitfulness makes dominion possible. When we possess image, union, fruitfulness, and dominion we are ready to inhabit and maintain Paradise and to bring Paradise wherever we go. The name of the city of God will be imprinted on us. This is the calling and destiny of each member of God's elect, of the Seed of Abraham, of the members of the Body of Christ.

To be continued.