Stay Connected

I love succulents but I must admit I am not the best at keeping them alive! Thanks to a church member who gives me careful instruction and rotates the plants in my work space, they are doing a little bit better. As people we are a lot like these plants. We also need to follow careful instruction and need to stay connected to grow.

I follow @iansimkins on Instragram (Go check him out!) He has some wise words to say on growth and staying connected which I would like to share.

'A plant doesn't grow by being dipped in soil once a week. The invitation isn't to just visit the Vine, it is to abide in it.'

Sadly many of us approach our spiritual lives this way, just checking in with God once a week on Sundays. We hope that this brief encounter will be enough to carry and sustain us throughout the week. But just like the plants in my office we need more than just the occasional check in.

Abiding in God isn't about an occasional connection but a continual dependence. In order for a branch to grow and produce fruit, it has to stay connected. It can't bear fruit on its own. It needs to draw everything it needs from its source, the vine.

In John 15:5 Jesus says,' I am the Vine and you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.' We can only grow the fruits of the Spirit when we stay connected to God.

Abiding is also more than attendance at church. Of course this is important, but we need to cultivate a daily connection with God. We need to spend time in His word, make time to speak AND listen to Him and invite Jesus into every part of our lives; even when that feels uncomfortable. Abiding means to choose to rely on God and really root our lives in Him so deeply that His love flows through us and transforms us from the inside out.

A plant that is not connected will wither and die; so too will our relationship with God if we do not stay rooted. Let's stay close to Jesus. Everything we need is found there.

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