CONNECTED TO THE VINE

CONNECTED TO THE VINE

We enjoy the convenience, ease and speed provided by modern technology. Travel is fast, communication quick, work is optimized, and efficient with the use of intelligent machines and gadgets; knowledge, information and advances in research grow by leaps and bounds every day using the most sophisticated super computers . These things have brought mankind to the highest level of self sufficiency far more surpassing any accomplishment since the age of renaissance.

But one thing is certain. The aircrafts, cars, computers, cell phones, cameras, television, toys, medical equipment, gadgetry, will not run without power. They become useless without power.

The same can be said of the Christian life, which fails to tap into the greatest Source of Power. A life controlled and directed by the Spirit of God is an empowered life. A life connected to Christ is well lived and fruitful, it is true life, a powerful testimony. To be disconnected from the Source means to be dead and without use.

Listen to what the Lord said, “ Yes, I am the vine you are the branches. Those who remain in me and I in them will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered to a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want and it will be granted.” (John 15:5-7 NLT)

Dr. John MacArthur succinctly explains this passage as a strong metaphor of deep significance. He said: “The vine-and-branches concept makes an ideal metaphor, because it is filled with parallels to our relationship with Christ. A branch grows through its connection with the vine, and  we grow because of our relationship with Christ. A branch is nothing apart from the vine, and we can do nothing apart from Him. A branch draws strength from the vine, and we become strong through Him.”

Think about it my friend.

THE UNTAMED HORSE AND THE UNPLOWED FIELD

In His sermon on the mount, Jesus said, "Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth."(Matthew 5:5)

The world in which we live honors the powerful. Meekness is viewed as weakness and the weak perish. Jesus calls the meek blessed or happy. One could hardly understand why there is blessedness or happiness in being meek, as in docile, in a highly competitive world where everyone strives to outdo one another. This teaching, is so contrary to the ways of the world. The standard of this world, is expressed in terms of power, superiority, rank, honor, wealth, possessions, and conquests. 

Mankind has been offering sacrifices in the altar of worldly success.  True enough, where would the world be without the triumphs and successes of man’s struggle to achieve? 

Does Jesus mean to be meek is for us to remain poor mediocre, spineless creatures to be dominated by the strong?

We see in history examples of men who are powerful, ruthless,  conquerors. We see them aspire and hold public office,  exercising power and authority over the lives of many people. The meek, the gentle, even the less powerful, would find themselves overrun by stronger forces than themselves. But if we look at these dominant figures, they are without weaknesses and frailties. And Jesus knows  they are not as powerful and dominant as they appear to be.

"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." This is one difficult teaching of the Lord to grasp, because the meek and the losers, would never amount to anything, judging from the ways of the world.

We have to find out who are the meek spoken of here.

The meek spoken of here, is not the same as one who has a weak personality. Meekness here is not weakness. In the Old Testament there was one man described as very meek. NUM 12:2-3 says, "Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth."

Certainly while Moses was meek he was no weakling. He was one the greatest patriarchs, who led his people out of slavery from Egypt. He fought and contended with Pharaoh, the most powerful ruler of the ancient world.

If the  meekness of Moses is not weakness, what then is the meaning of the meek whom the Lord describes as blessed and will inherit the earth?

The Greek word used by Jesus means "gentle, humble, considerate, patient, courteous."

The word meek in both in the Hebrew and the Greek languages means - "To be tamed" in the case of a wild or untamed animal, or in the case of a field - "To be plowed."

A farmer who prepares to plant needs to break and soften the hard soil before planting the seeds. The plowed field will then be ready to receive the seeds. A hardened, unplowed soil may be literally hard that  it will not be productive unless it is loosened up and plowed. So the “meek” or the field that is plowed, and broken up, will be blessed for it will receive the seeds and yield the crops, unlike the tough hardened soil.  

This is the same concept when we use the word meek to mean “to be tamed.” 

An untamed wild horse, is a strong, powerful beast, running wild and free. Once this horse is tamed, the same horse still retains its strength, energy, and power, but this time the power and strength of this horse, is controlled, focused, and directed by the rider of the horse, so it’s  awesome power is  directed, contained and under control.

Truly it is such a wonderful thought to be the kind of meek person, whom the Lord describes. He is like the hardened tough soil who surrenders control of his strength, and ability, to be cultivated as the Master Farmer wills him to be used for greater harvest. He is like the untamed, strong, horse who submits to the training and discipline of the Master Rider, finally yielding to His control and direction all its potential force, power and endurance, following the Master’s leading.    

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