“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”- John 15:4-5
Duty of some sort calls us all. However, some refuse to try because they feel, or say, they lack the gift. In other words, “I would if I could”. That’s usually an excuse for disobeying God. The truth is, when God calls, the gift follows the goal. He enables us to do as He directs. The ability comes with the assignment. Faithfulness to God is followed by fruit from God.
No one is expected to do everything, but anyone can do anything that God calls him to do. As Paul said in Phil. 2:13 “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”. Whatever the ministry, it is the Master’s mission and it is by His might that we do our duty. If your heart is in His hands worry not about what your hands can do– He is “able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,” ( Eph. 3:20)! As the branch abides in the vine, it is our union with Christ that we are made to succeed.
I don’t know what challenge lies before you– what it is that God would have you to do– but I know He who makes all grace abound will make you fruitful. That should broaden the horizon of your expectations. It should produce possibilities and create confidence that you’ve never seen before. You can put your hands to the plow without fretting about whether or not you will be fruitful. You can labor with assurance that it will not be in vain. The precious promise of the One that cannot lie assures you that your efforts will be met with success. He will make you “fruitful in every good work”– (Col. 1:10)–HDS
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346
