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 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 of life from
beginning unto eternity comes from the “Giver of Life” and we should live out
our lives in gratitude and thanks.
Christ desires that we live out our lives drawing from Him
as the source of all substance and life. He is the vine and we are the branches
(John 15:1-11). 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 commandment I give to you, that
you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
"By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for
one another." (John 13:34-35)
We cannot fake this love, nor can we try by our best
intentions to love this way. Our loving
has to come from our dying to our selfish ways and making everything we do in
our fellowship about following and loving our Lord. This means in our personal
life and in our life together as a part of the “Body of Christ,” which is His
church around the world. If we love
Christ above all else, it will change our lives and our world.
As Christ changes our lives, we should be excited to give
witness to the power that has changed us. This translates into the sharing of
the Christ that is our Lord with our friends and family and the world around
us. Our witnessing to what He has done
in our lives will then be natural and flow out of the work of the Holy Spirit
in making us new. This happens as we die to ourselves and let Christ flow into
us as His branches. May we remember His great love for us in forgiving all of
our sins and may we let His love flow in and out of us as we love those around
us with His love. May we be true branches on the true Vine of all life.
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved,
clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and
patience. Bear with each other and
forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as
the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them
all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,
since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the
message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another
with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to
God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or
deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father
through him.” (Colossians 3:12-17)
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