"Abide Does Not Mean Work Harder"    2010

Psalm 67       John 15:1-12

 

Psalm 67 (NRSV)      The Nations Called to Praise God

1 May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, Selah  that your way may be known upon earth, your saving power among all nations. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you.  Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Selah  Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you.  The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, has blessed us.  May God continue to bless us; let all the ends of the earth revere him.

 

John 15:1-12 (NRSV)    Jesus the True Vine

‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine-grower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. 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. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.

‘This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

 

Happy Father's Day.     I hope that it is a very fine day for all of you.

 

When I think about fatherhood from a Christian perspective,

            I am reminded of a marvelous, almost idyllic painting I saw once.

 

The scene is at night with à

      the moon's pale light streaming in through an open bedroom window

                        onto the gentle face of a young child peacefully asleep.

It is a picture of contentment,  security and blessed well-being,

                           as you can feel   that all is right with that child's world.

 

                        And kneeling at the foot of the bed, there is a man,

                                    obviously the father,

                                                his head bowed, eyes closed,  in earnest prayer

                                                            for this precious and beloved little child.

 

The artist has skillfully pictured

            an image that expresses both his strength and vulnerability.

This is a strong and determined man,

            who you can see would do anything for the sake of his child.

He is physically there,  powerfully present

            to teach and guide,  and to protect  against any danger or harm.

 

There is also a sense of vulnerability;

   the father's visible submission under the power & authority of God.

            This father is making humble supplication and intercession

                  before his Eternal Father on behalf of that much loved child.

 

This is a very compelling snapshot of Christian fatherhood;

            an image of a faithful and godly father,

                        as one who seeks God's blessings in the life of that child.

Defender & protector, yet who walks & relies upon the Lord he trusts.

 

I think it represents the best of a male role model,

            when men of faith are there to love    in strength that reflects

                                    God's truth & promise into the lives of children and family…

 

  … and that has been a part of this past week of Vacation Bible School,

             with lots of both men  & women volunteering to make a difference.                       

And the Scripture focus has been on growing fruits of the Spirit;

                        love,             joy,   peace,           patience                  and kindness -----

                                    which are characteristics

                                                of an ongoing and growing relationship with God…

… and I would bet    and hope

            that parents of those children  have seen some of those fruits

                        enacted in the lives of your children at home this week.

 

However, one of the challenges we face after a wonderful week of VBS;

            for both children and helpers,

                        is,   how do we keep that faith active and alive,

                                    and not lose that reinvigorated fervor

                                                or allow our spiritual growth to fade & disappear?

 

One time when I was a student intern preparing for ministry,

            I asked my mentor and advisor, "How do you keep it real and fresh,

                        and avoid stagnation and complacency in your faith?"

 

I was expecting that Don might give me a 10 point to do list, like,

            morning devotions, read through the Bible once a year, etc. …

                                                … but that's not what he said.

           

I'd assumed that it might be something about faithfully working harder

            or by doing more of the religious stuff of the Bible  for Jesus…

                                                … but that's not what he said.

 

None of that is the sort of advice Don gave me that day.  He told me:

            what had worked for him, and he had the life experience to know,

                        were really just two little things.

            First, it's about making the right little decisions,

                        and second,

                                    carving out some space in our lives for God's grace.

 

Don explained to me,

            that in life we are constantly making small choices – minor things

                        and the trick is to evaluate all  our choices and options

                                    in terms of faithfulness to God, obedience to God’s word.

 

He found that in life,

            one choice   will generally bring us a little closer to God,

                        and the other,       probably won't.

            One choice requires  stepping out in obedience, trust and faith,

                        while the other seems a little safer, and feels more secure.

 

One path leads to being more useful in building the kingdom of God

            and the other more likely pursues the things of this world,

                    offers pleasure & success, but lasts only for a short season.

 

            He said it comes down to our seemingly minor decisions in life;

                        that more often than not,

                            are quite subtle in how they build on other little things.

But if we will pause and think about it,

      one will increase our connectedness to Christ more than the other.

 

            Its not necessarily an obvious choice between good and evil,

                        but more likely,

                                                one way is a little more difficult, and faithful;

                                                            one way   more worthy of a beloved child of God.

 

Don explained to me,     that,    is the path to choose,

                        that,  is the one that puts us in a place where God can use us;

    and it's being used and useful to God – trusting, walking with God,

            that,   is what keeps our faith real, growing, fresh and alive.

 

Don's second suggestion recognizes

            that our lives are busy with endless demands and pressures ---

                        and that unless

                                    we are intentional about making space in our lives,

                                                then other stuff will surely crowd God's grace out.

 

If we don't pause long enough     we won't experience and recognizeà

            God's presence, abundant blessings and grace in our lives;

à                    then our relationship with God, our walk of faith,

                                    will whither into meaningless religious ritual…

            … instead of a real, vibrant and loving relationship of grace.

 

Jesus said, vs. 5

            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. 

 

Jesus is making the point that our relationship with him,

            our abiding in him and He in us,

                        our remaining connected with him,  is everything; à

 

            for only connected –  abiding in Christ,  do we find and receive

                        our faith, our strength, our purpose and fruitfulness;

                                    for if separated, by going our own way apart from him

                                    then we are at grave risk, and will surely fail & fall.

 

Jesus said: John 15:1-2

            "I am the true vine,    and my Father is the vine grower.  He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit.  Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit.

 

Some, reading this text, see this mostly as a threat,

                                                                        a warning against the branches;

                        to try harder,  to be more fruitful,  or else…

 

            … or else    be cut-off,  removed to wither,

                                                and then be thrown into the fire, and burned.

 

But the word translated, "removes", also means "lifts up and raises".

            Grape vines in particular

                        cannot produce their fruit  if they are lying on the ground;

 

       so vine dressers have to gently lift up any fallen vines

                        and carefully tie those branches to the trellis,

                                    which then enables them   to produce the grapes.

 

The word translated, "prunes", is a very broad term;   (kaqarizw)

                        its meaning also includes, to cleanse, to heal, to restore;

                                    to make whole,

                                         to renew and repair whatever is damaged and broken.

 

I used to have a garden when I lived in North Carolina,

            and whenever a hurricane would sweep through our area,

                        it did terrible damage to my poor-pitiful little garden.

 

So afterward I cleared debris & tenderly pruned the injured plants,

                    trying to heal and restore my garden from the storm damage.

            That is what Jesus is describing in this passage,à

                        trying to heal and restore us from life's storms  we endure.

 

The image in the text is not that of an angry-brutal vine-dresser

            who endlessly demands more and more productivity,    or who

                        cuts off and burns   any lazy limbs or failing branches.

 

Consider the context of when Jesus said these words,

            it was that night in the upper room just hours before

                        he was betrayed and abandoned,  suffered and died, à

 

à fully knowing that his fearful disciples would fail to be faithful.

 

So I hear these as wonderful words of promise, encouragement & comfort,

            as words of hope and assurance that though we fail and fall,

                        that if we will abide in Jesus, than he will abide in us;

                                    and if he abides in us, then we will surely bear fruit.

 

A branch cannot work harder, or by its determination bear more fruit.

            Other than choosing to remain connected to vine or not,

                        there's really very little that the branch can do or not do

                             that will change or improve its production of the fruit.

 

The lesson is not that   God just gives up in harsh & wrathful disgust.

            It is not about judgment against unproductive fallen branches,

                        but rather, Jesus is describing

                                    the nurture & care that enables fruitfulness & grapes.

 

Grow more and better fruit or be cut-off and burn? 

            That misses the point and denies the graciousness of God's love;

                             for the point is, that we cannot do it for ourselves.

Jesus declares:   John 15:5

            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.

 

Our task then      is to abide and thereby be fruitful,

   by allowing the gracious work of God  to flow unimpeded through us…

            … our task is to abide and just don't cut ourselves off from God.

 

The question is not if are we trying hard enough to be fruitful,

            but are we abiding in Christ and clinging to the true vine

                        so grace can flow and Christ can grow his fruit through us?

 

This passage is so much about the grace and hope we need;

            especially for people who are weary and tired or hurting

                        or frustrated and discouraged   that for all they try and do

                                    yet still   feel like unworthy failures and frauds.

 

   It is hope for those who feel not good enough or righteous enough,

            not faithful enough, not accomplished enough

                        not spiritual enough to walk in joy and peace with the Lord.

 

So, what does that mean,   and specifically, how do we abide in Christ?

 

Abide is kind of an old fashioned word.  I think of loyalty à

  à commitment,   and the endurance & tenacity of sticking it out;

                   God has given us His love, and abide is the way we receive it.

 

Abide means staying in a relationship with God,

            who promises to show us how to make the right little choices;

                        and we abide by creating space and time in our busy lives

                             to wait for God to speak, for Spirit & grace to guide us.

Abide is a protective wall surrounding an area where we connect to God.

 

Abide is also a constantly moving target.

            It's an open awareness of God's grace

                        that embraces every aspect of our Christian life…

     … for God is infinite and speaks to us in countless ways and places.

 

And we abide by connecting with others;

             and seeing God's hand at work,

                        especially in the lives of those we love and cherish.           

 

For Father's Day,           

            Dads, if you want to abide, it involves your family;

                        it's showing them  you do make time and space for God & grace,

                                    and it’s the countless little decisions we all make.

            It's demonstrating strength and vulnerability in our abide,

                        by living out healthy

                                    and caring relationships for your children to see.   

 

We abide in all the many and varied, wonderful and mysterious

            amazing moments & blessings of Christian living & faithfulness;

                        anywhere and everywhere that we receive and reflect

                                    God's gracious presence & steadfast loving kindness.

 

Jesus explained and promised:                       John 10:10, 15:4,9

            I came that you may have life, and have it more abundantly.  Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me.  As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love.