BRANCH OF JESUS

Posted on by Angel Lovoy Moore

Day 25 – Who He Says I Am Series

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”

– John 15:5 (NKJV)

In Christ – 

YOU ARE A BRANCH OF JESUS

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. It doesn’t take much time in church or in the Christian faith to recognize this list from the apostle Paul’s letter to the Galatians (chapter 5) as the Fruits of the Spirit. Unfortunately, many people replace the word fruits with the word commands. The problem in replacing the word, is that these 2 words mean very different things. The word command is an imperative that is required of you to do while the word fruit means a product of. See the importance in this distinction? Many Christians spend so much time and effort trying to achieve these things, which actually ends up focusing on self – self reliance, self worth, self righteousness. “Trying to do” keeps you self focused. But recognizing that you already are, lifts your head. Once your head is lifted you can look up to see Jesus. You can look out to see others. Changing your mindset from trying to resting allows you to just be. Ahhh…can’t you breathe deeper now? Love and joy will be seasoned in your words. Patience and kindness will permeate your actions. And goodness, faithfulness, gentless, and self-control will define your character. It’s the fruit – the product of who you are in Christ. A strawberry bush doesn’t work hard to produce a strawberry. It just does (given proper conditions) because that’s what it is. The proper conditions for you to fruit are being in the vine of Jesus which you are because as a believer, He dwells within you and you in Him. You get to stop striving to live for God and thrive in living from God. Did you notice the difference in those prepositions? Change your for to from. Change your striving to thriving. Change your working to resting. It makes all the difference in the source of the fruit. Jesus is the vine. He is the source. He has done the work. A perfect and completed work. Just as a vine is rooted in the soil (the Father) to collect the nutrients and pass them on to the branch, the branch is merely a vessel for the production of the fruit. The branch doesn’t make the fruit. The Holy Spirit (the living water and nutrients that pass through the branch) does that. The branch simply abides, remains, and rests while Holy Spirit bears fruit through you. The branch is an extension of the vine. Our good works flow out of the goodness of God. “for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose.” – Philippians 2:13. He is fulfilling His good works through you as you rest and abide in Him.

BRANCH OF JESUS – is your Identity! 

Daily Reminder

You don’t have to work to be a Branch of Jesus, you already are a Branch of Jesus because Christ gave you a new identity. His identity. This is who you are because of who He is, not who you have to try to become.

– Religion tells us what to do to become, which equals self reliance – the focus is on self.

– The truth of the Gospel tells us who we are because of who Jesus is and what He did – the focus is on Jesus.

Good News  – Our Father in heaven is pleased with you because of what Jesus did – it all hinges on Him not us.

We are in union with Christ (1 Corinthians 6:17). When our Daddy in heaven looks at you, He sees Jesus, and He is nothing but pleased. (Matthew 3:17)

Rest in Him today

Father God,

Thank You for being my Source. You are Jehovah Jireh, my Provider. Not only do You provide your fruits, Your good works, through me, but You also provide all my needs according to Your glorious riches. Today, I can rest in You for my needs and I can rest in You for good works. Thank You Jesus!

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Published by Angel Lovoy Moore

I must admit that I am a bit of an enigma: a half-Italian Alabama native who hosts giant groups of friends and family every chance I get, but will also sneak away to a private corner to read a good book or journal my latest thoughts. I will cook a creative gourmet feast from scratch without any recipe or measurements, but also enjoy a quick and simple meal at the local cozy hole-in-the-wall diner down the street. I have been married to my childhood family friend for 25 years with whom I share 3, nearly all adult children, and am deeply passionate about Grace, Family, and Faith. I am passionate about pointing people to Jesus. I am compelled to share what He has done in my life and all that He has taught me. I desperately want people to see Him for who He really is and not all the attachments that religion has put on Him. I long for people, believers and unbelievers alike, to understand the Truth - the uncensored, un-manipulated Truth of the Gospel. Because of the blood of Jesus, the Life He gave on the Cross, we are unconditionally loved by the Father and once we place our faith in Jesus, we are forever in right standing with God. It is the power of the finished work of the Cross. I am in awe and live to proclaim- Thank You Jesus! Come along with me as we Journey to Grace Land!