Unbolt The Door To Your Heart

Tag: vine

  • Relationship

    I saw this quote on Instagram from a former pastor.

    “What would shift in your life if you saw your primary calling as being with Jesus before doing for Jesus?”

    Being with Jesus is about relational intimacy, while doing for Jesus is about outward tasks.

    “I am the vine; 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.” John 15:5 NIV

    Your primary calling is not to do good work or to obey the commandments or doctrines of a religion.  Your primary calling is to stay connected to the vine.

    The Branch does not produce fruit and then says to the vine, “look how good my fruit is” and then expects the vine to accept and love it.

    Many people today are doing great and good work in the name of Jesus and are expecting a reward for doing these works.  They believe that they are owed the love of God because of their behavior or actions. They believe that God will love them more because of their sabbath keeping, following all the doctrines of a religion. They are very proud of keeping all the commandments.

     “Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?” Matthew 7: 22 NIV

    Yet sadly in the next verse Jesus response is “I never knew you” Matthew 7:23 NIV

    The people in Matthew 7 are good Christians. They believe in God, pray and study the bible.  Yet they find out that all their good behavior did not earn them one minute with God in Heaven. They were going to church because they thought the Lord would reward them for attending on a certain day. They did not go to church to praise and worship the Lord with abandonment for all He has done for them this week.  It was just the day the Lord commanded them to go to church.

    Your main goal every morning is to start your day with Jesus. Then the struggle begins to stay connected through the day. The outward fruit will appear naturally if you are connected to the vine which is Jesus. The Branch cannot produce any good fruit on its own.  It is only because the branch is connected to the vine and then letting the vine produce good fruit. 

    It is the fruit of the Spirit not the fruit of my good behavior.

    Remember it is not a religion it is a relationship.

    Prayers and Love for all.

    Larry

  • I AM

    Seven “I AM” in the bible.  Seven different descriptions of what Jesus meant when he said  “I AM” .

    The Gospel of John records this repeated phrase “I am” seven times. Each repetition adds another layer of understanding of His character until we see dimly His character and form.

    The Bread of Life

    And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.” -John 6:35

    Light of the World

    Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” -John 8:12

    The Door

    “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.” -John 10:9

    Good Shepherd

    “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” -John 10:11

    The Resurrection and Life

    Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” -John 11:25, 26

    The Way, the Truth and the Life

    Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” -John 14:6

    The Vine

    “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” -John 15:5

    If you are struggling to find out who Jesus is to you. Read repeatedly these seven “I AM’s” and one, if not all of them will speak to your heart today. Print them out and put them on your refrigerator.  The real beauty is that tomorrow it will be a different “I AM” that guides you that day in your walk with Him.

    Every Morning Donna and I experience a different “I AM” in our individual walks in the garden. 

    We have never felt more blessed and closer to God than we have ever been, and we know beyond a shadow of a doubt there is so much more to learn on our early morning walks with Him.  Every evening we go to sleep in excitement to experience God all anew in the Garden in the morning. 

    We cannot wait to share what the Holy Spirit is doing inside us.  God is and will bring those into your life that need to hear and experience what God has done for you.

    They do not need to hear your doctrine or condemnation.  They just need to hear the good news about the “I AM” in your life today.

    We can not wait to wake up every morning and experience God and His path today.

    Remember it is not a religion, it is a relationship.

    Prayers and Love for all.

    Larry