There are many other examples throughout the Word of God that apart from the Lord personally being in the midst of one’s life, one’s work is done in vain. Simply put, if one does not have the Lord involved in the building of one’s life, or the protection of one’s being, we labor for, and guard it in vain.
Jesus continues this theme from the Old Testament in John 15: 1 – 2 + 4: saying, “I am the true Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes it, that it may bear more fruit. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless (except under the circumstances that, or apart from) it abides in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in Me.”
Jesus says in John 12: 24: “Truly, truly, I say to you, “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” Here we see that dying to self is as natural to a fruit-bearing life, as a seed falling into the ground to do produce fruit, which is what it was created to do; and so were we.
John the Baptist tells us in John 3: 27: “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from above.” And Jesus further tells us in John 6: 44: “No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the Last day.” And in John 3: 3 + 5: Jesus says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. Truly, truly I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.” The Lord plainly tells us through His own words that being born again by the Spirit of God is a free gift of Salvation from the Father.
Dearest Holy Lord Jesus: thank You so much for submitting Yourself to become the Vessel through which we might know Eternal life. Come by Your Holy Spirit, and give discernment and wisdom to all who may not yet understand the simplicity and demands of the Father’s Words You have given us. Fill us afresh with a greater desire to be completely dependent upon Your Strength and Lordship in our lives. Glory to You alone!
