Abide In the Vine.

When we accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour ,we become a part of the Body of Christ with the ability to be Christ-like .
In John 15: 1-17, Jesus likens Himself to the Vine and the Believers as the branches which bear the fruit of the vine .
He states here that the branches would bear fruits , as long as they remain attached to Him, the Vine . If they are cut or broken off from the Vine , their life-source , they wither,they die and become of no value but as twigs for the fire.
"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 you can do nothing". John 15: 5.
This is similar to a river and its rivulets or tributaries. Dam the flow of water from the river into its tributaries and they dry up.
A dried-up river ceases to bear life and is unable to give sustenance to anyone.
The worldly value system says: “Nothing goes for anything”. If you are a “nobody” and you bring nothing into a deal; then your receive nothing .
No one would , knowingly, invest in a transaction with someone who has NOTHING of equal or even greater value to offer in return to complete their own side of the deal.
But not so with our merciful God, who gave and gives generously and unconditionally.
"He that spared not his own son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things ?" Romans 8 :32
The branches have nothing and are nothing without the Vine. Yet, they remain robust, sturdy and full of life when they abide in the Vine because they receive tender care from the Father, the Husbandman.
Everything the branches would ever need are found in the Vine.
"Blessed be the Lord, who daily loaded us with benefits, even the God of our salvation." Psalm 68:19.

Thousands of people become born-again, daily , world-wide. The will of God is that every one of them would remain in the Faith , grow to maturity and bear fruits meet for the New Life.
However , while some Christians remain steadfast in the Faith for decades and for life , some others ,become "detached " from the Vine ,they give it up and quit!
What makes the difference between the Faithful and the Unfaithful?
Why are there quitters and losers and then Finishers and Winners in the race of the Kingdom Life?
It would be irresponsible and unfair to give the new-comer to the Faith the impression that once you are saved , then everything in life becomes "honky dory"; that is, easy and smooth-sailing just by believing and confessing that it is so!
Satan doesn't give up the fight to weaken and derail Christians.
Sometimes, the Faith Run does become tough and many who are in the Faith today , almost gave up , at a point in their lives.
But glory be to God that when the going gets tough , the strong gets going!
There are devices of the enemy which he uses to attack the branches , to weaken them and to separate them from the Vine.
The Bible calls these Satanic tools and agents "little foxes that spoil the vine" (Songs of Solomon 2:15)
These Satanic agents are very destructive. They are are not supposed to be among the branches but they are present all the same .
They " nibble" at the branches , gradually , until they destroy them and effect total detachment of some of the branches from the Vine.
However , Satan cannot do much damage in the life of the Believer; unless he or she gives room to the enemy to operate freely. Quitters are losers. They never win.
"And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work , and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom : to whom be glory forever and ever ". 2 Timothy 4 :18.

In my next blog , "Having Done All, Stand !", I shall write on these weapons of the enemy and how to overcome them.
* I have written "Complete In Him " and "Abide In The Vine " as Bible tracts.
They are available , FREE , in major translations.