Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net
-----Original Message-----
From: Lynn Smith <lynn824@cebridge.net>
Sent: Sat, 10 Nov 2007 09:01:36 -0600
To: Recipient list suppressed:;
Subject: Morning Manna Nov. 11--BP: Jn. 15:1-11; RBTTY: Heb. 8; Jer. 50
November 11
“I am the Vine; you are the branches. He that abides in Me and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit or without Me you can do nothing.”
Being near is not being in.
One day when Jesus was being questioned by a scribe on “Which is the first (or most important) commandment of all?” (Mk. 12:28), Jesus quoted from the Shema in Dt. 6:4-5 about “loving the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and your neighbor as yourself.” The scribe was pleased with Jesus’ answer and began adding some of his own (Mk. 12:29-33). Interestingly, Jesus noticed the scribe’s hushed answer and said “You are not far from the Kingdom of God” (v.34).
What an affirmation! What a wonderful thing to be told by the Master to this scribe, whose fellow scribes hounded Jesus constantly during His earthly ministry! Yet, in a way, there’s a sobering thought to His words. And, what might that be? Simply this:
“Being NEAR is not being IN.”
Just as a person standing within arm’s length of a departing ocean liner is NEAR the ship, but still left standing on the dock, so is someone who’s “NEAR to the Kingdom, but not IN it.” Likewise, a person may have his airline tickets in hand and be standing at the ramp door in the airport as the plane is backed away from the terminal. He’s NEAR the plane, but not IN it.
And, dear Pilgrim, that’s exactly what Jesus is saying in today’s Manna. He first remind us that HE is “the Vine,” not us. We are “the branches,” which means we’re an outgrowth of the Vine and totally dependent upon Him for life and sustenance. That’s why Jesus went on to say “He that ABIDES in Me and I IN him, the same brings forth much fruit.”
The Greek word “meno” is used for “abide” and basically means “to dwell in, stay in a given place, remain in, continue in, etc.” Thus, it’s a present-tense, continuous action, moment-by-moment “inhabiting” in Christ. As Watchman Nee said, “Christ is the sum of all spiritual things.” He is our “all-in-all” (I Cor. 15:28). Therefore, it’s impossible for a person to say “I am IN Christ” when he’s doing what He wants. . .going where He pleases. . .saying whatever He likes. . .treating others with contempt and disrespect. . .and still say “Oh, yes, I’m saved.” It’s not a question of “Have you walked down an aisle, made a profession of faith and been dunked in a baptismal pool?”
No, the question is, “Is Jesus the Lord of your life and are you ABIDING in Him? Are you totally DEPENDENT upon Him? Do you hunger and thirst after Him? Does it grieve you when you know you’ve grieved Him?” If not, the question, then, is “Why not??”
Know you not that “Godly sorrow results in repentance” (Rom. 2:4b)? Woe to him/her who says “Jesus is Lord,” but doesn’t do what He says (Mt. 7:21-27). May the Holy Spirit help us today to know for sure if we’re IN Him or not.
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