In Whose Life Do You Live?
“Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” – John 15:4
The university gymnasium is packed, and from the platform, I can see every student. The microphone works fine. I can see my notes. But something is wrong. I am only ten minutes into my message, but there’s a restlessness in the air. The faces of the students in the front row hold blank expressions. They look as dull as I feel.
I realize that I sound hollow. More than that, I feel hollow. Even though I’m sharing powerful truths from God’s Word, I know that my words lack energy. I’m separated from my message – disconnected, out of gear. Before I embark on my next sentence, I breathe a silent prayer – no more going through the motions. Within minutes I can sense the difference between my effort and God’s energy working through me. I feel relaxed, free. There is joy in my voice and the faces of the kids on the front row even begin to brighten.
Nothing is more mechanical than when we attempt to live a supernatural life apart from God. I’ve done it. You do it. When we live apart from Him, prayer becomes dull, witnessing becomes dry, and relationships sag under the weight of selfishness. Our jobs become routine, and even performing an act of kindness becomes an unpleasant duty. Our relationship to the Lord even becomes a chore.
In case you’re feeling a little self-sufficient, remember that in Him you live, move, and have your being. Apart from Him you can’t do a thing. So, count yourself dead to sin but alive to God in Christ.
Taken from Joni’s Diamonds in the Dust devotional.
