“May not the inadequacy of much of our spiritual experience be traced back to our habit of skipping through the corridors of the Kingdom like children in the marketplace, chattering about everything but pausing to learn the value of nothing” – A.W. Tozer

During the transition to the Mount of Olives (before Gethsemane), Jesus painted a word-picture to describe the life of faith in Him. He said:

“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 15:4 NKJV

It was a lesson about their connection to Jesus. There would be great power endued them by the Holy Spirit and productive activity, but the key to unlocking it all was to abide. As branches, we are completely dependent on the nutrients provided from the Vine and the Vinedresser (the Father v.1) manages the vineyard for His purposes. There is often an urge to be “doing” something in the Kingdom to prove our worth, but our doing is to abide and let Him produce fruit through us. In the process there will be:

• Peace – His peace (14:27)
• Seasonal changes (rhythms of life)
• Pruning (reduction of excess)
• Drought (times of stress)
• Rain (times of refreshment)
• Soil enhancements (things added)
• Harvesting (things taken away)

He then reminded them:

“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” – John 15:11 NKJV

Don’t stress over the doing, learn the value of abiding and experience the joy…today.