By Shirley Rosemarie Evans
Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit.
For apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)
On our journey into delighting in Jesus, we must stop at the station marked humility.
In today’s world, humility is often seen as weak, and those considered humble are at best overlooked and at worst abused or exploited. In our journey into delighting in Jesus, however, humility is powerful currency. Humility is to recognise our limitations before an all-powerful God, owning that without Him, we can do nothing. If we want to do great things for the Kingdom, we must first own that we desperately need Jesus.
Jesus Himself tells us this in the key verse, “Apart from me, you can do nothing.” This is the opposite of our cultural values, which preach independence, self-determination, and the right to identify, own your own truth, and live your best life. The emphasis is always on the self, to the extent that we have broken individuals, fragmented communities, and, sadly, often churches. In our fragmented world, many are lost, failing to realise the utopia they expected from their self-dependence. Many now live their lives through the jaded lens of social media, seeking to emulate influencers, build a following, and generate likes as if this is, in and of itself, validation of who we are. The sad thing is that we all know how public opinion and trends and movements are constantly shifting and changing, so that for many, life is a constant hamster wheel, an exercise that never satisfies.
But for the believer, we understand that we are totally dependent on Jesus. In Him, we find meaning, and we have purpose. He has good plans for each of us and has gifted us for serving and for missions. In Him, we find our identity as children of God, uniquely fashioned for His glory. In Him, we find community, a part of the biggest family on earth- the family of God. In Him we find liberty as we recognise that it is never about us, or what we can do, but it is always about what He will do in and through us. The pressure is off; God works in and through us by His power for His glory. That is something to be delighted about. I don’t have to fake it till I make it; I am not shaped by others' opinions. According to Ephesians 1, we are already blessed with every spiritual blessing. We have been chosen by God; He, through Jesus Christ, has given us right standing in Him and declared that we are without fault. We are adopted into the family of God; He has poured out His grace upon us and forgiven us of our sins. He has showered us with kindness, and He has given us all wisdom and understanding. We have an eternal inheritance in Him, and He has a plan for us and will make everything work out in our lives in line with His plan. This is who we are and what we have in Him. Our part of the deal is to abide or remain in Him totally, depending on Him, so that all that He says will be lived out and worked in us as we continue to delight ourselves in this great God of our salvation.
Dear God, we acknowledge that we need you, and that apart from you we can do nothing. Forgive us God for those times when we have got it wrong and help us by your grace to live out who you say we are and do what you have called us to do as we abide in you. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
