31. You can do Nothing—

John 15:5 (NRSV) I am the vine, you are the branches. 

Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, 

because apart from me you can do nothing.

Apart from Me you can do nothing—this is both a plea and a call to abide in Christ every moment! We have only to go back to the vine to see how true it is. Look again at that little branch, utterly helpless and fruitless unless it receives sap from the vine, and learns that the full conviction of not being able to do anything apart from Christ is just what we need to know to abide in our Heavenly Vine. This is the great meaning of the pruning Christ spoke of—all that is self must be brought low, that our confidence may be in Christ alone. Abide in Me—much fruit! Apart from Me—nothing! The choice is easy, is it not?

The one lesson of the parable is—as surely, as naturally as the branch abides in the vine, we can abide in Christ. For this He is the True Vine; for this God is the Vine-grower; for this each one of us is a branch. May we cry to God to deliver us forever from the "apart from Me," and to make the "abide in Me" an unceasing reality! Let our hearts go out to Who Christ is, and what He can do. Let our hearts go out to His Divine Power and His Tender Love to each of His branches. Then we will confidently declare

 "Lord! I am abiding; I will bear much fruit. My impotence is my strength. So be it. 

Apart from You, nothing. 

In You, much fruit."