Last week I began this series, so you really do need to read the previous three entries from last week to get the maximum effect. I’m basically putting a string of quotes together from Jesus that show how he thought, spoke, and lived his life.
MY SOURCE OF STRENGTH AND LIFE
“Christ is the Vine, and I am one of his branches—in one sense, an outgrowth of God himself. I live in Him and he lives in me, which is why I’m bearing so much fruit, fruit that lasts. You see, apart from Him, I can do nothing—but if I live in Him and his words live in me, I can ask whatever I wish, and it will be given to me. It makes sense, if you think about it: My Father is glorified when I bear fruit. If a branch is bearing fruit, it must be connected to the Vine. So it proves that I’m one of his disciples.
My Jesus is also my bread of life. Because I have come to Him and believe in him, I’m never spiritually hungry or thirsty. How could I be, when his flesh is real food and His blood is real drink? Just as the living Father sent Jesus and He lives because of the Father, I feed on Jesus and live because of Him. If I only drank earthly water I’d get thirsty again, but because I drank the water Jesus gave me, I’ll never thirst again. It’s amazing!
Many people diligently study the Bible because they think that they can wring eternal life from the words on the pages. I do study the scriptures, but I look to Jesus to experience the life they talk about. Jesus is the true source; His water is a spring of water welling up to eternal life, flowing right from within me. It’s just like he promised, just like the scriptures say.
You see, the Spirit gives life, but at the end of the day, the flesh counts for nothing. I don’t work for food that spoils, but for food that lasts forever, which Jesus gives me as I need it. This food isn’t what you think. It’s actually doing the will of my heavenly Father and finishing His work. And I don’t accept praise from people when I succeed at that. How can I believe if I accept praise from people, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from my Father?”
Now: Read it aloud to yourself, pray it, live it!
Tomorrow: My words…