9. The Branch—

John 15:2 (NRSV) — 2a He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. …

(ii) the lesson of perfect conformity. The branch is exactly like the vine in every aspect—the same nature, the same life, the same place, the same work. In all this they are inseparably one. And so we need to realise that we are partakers of the Divine Nature, and have the very nature and spirit of Christ in us, and that our one calling is to yield ourselves to a perfect conformity to Christ. The branch is a perfect likeness of the vine—the only difference is that the one is Great and Strong and the Source of Strength, the other small and feeble, ever needing and receiving strength. That is how the believer is and is to be—the perfect likeness of Christ.

Is this challenging enough for you?! Let us continue …

(iii) the lesson of absolute dependence. The vine has its stores of life, sap and strength, not for itself, but for the branches. The branches are and have nothing except that which the vine provides and imparts. The believer is called to, and it is his highest blessedness to enter upon, a life of entire and unceasing dependence upon Christ. Day and night, every moment, Christ is to work in us all we need.

AM writes with such profound simplicity that we cannot help but stop and think about his words and his intentions for his readers—in this case—us!