January 1st, 2021
Staying Focused on Jesus - Tuesday - Amie Donovan
God is in Control
Scripture Reading – John 15:5 (NIV)
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."
Picture this with me. Jesus is walking with his disciples the night before dying on a cross for humanity's sins. Peter and John have no idea that Jesus is about to lose His freedom and get arrested. The intimate way they walk with their teacher is about to be flipped upside down. They knew something was different when Jesus spoke at dinner. It just felt off. There was passion in his eyes, a seriousness they hadn't seen before. He tells them they are to love one another, so the world knows they are his disciples. They are to serve, not argue about how great their works are. They are to share the good news in humility.
Simultaneously, as giving them these commands, he also tells them that he's leaving to be with his father. He tells them they cannot go with him. Jesus tells them He is the ONLY way, and one day they will follow. I hear the confusion and fear rising in his friends as I read through the account in the book of John. I stop and think to myself, "I feel like that too. Sometimes what we cannot understand is so hard it can become debilitating. How can we possibly stay in step with what God wants to do through our lives, with so much we don't know? So much we can't see?"
During that walk, Jesus gave them the answer to the unspoken question of how we remain mission-minded in a world full of confusion and unknowns. "I am the vine. You are the branches. Remain in me, and I will remain in you." The vine is the life source of the branch. The branch needs not to worry about producing fruit but is connected to its life source. From the connection, the fruit is simply a response that naturally occurs. In this life of situations I cannot control and things I wish I could, I stay focused on Jesus, trusting His mission will be accomplished.
When life seems confusing, when things pop up that are out of your control, when you struggle to move beyond the mistakes of yesterday, remember these four words, my friends. GOD IS IN CONTROL. Jesus is your life source. Your life will be fruitful if you remain in Him, knowing He will remain in you. Stay Focused on God, and know you're never alone as you walk out into your mission.
God is in Control
Scripture Reading – John 15:5 (NIV)
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."
Picture this with me. Jesus is walking with his disciples the night before dying on a cross for humanity's sins. Peter and John have no idea that Jesus is about to lose His freedom and get arrested. The intimate way they walk with their teacher is about to be flipped upside down. They knew something was different when Jesus spoke at dinner. It just felt off. There was passion in his eyes, a seriousness they hadn't seen before. He tells them they are to love one another, so the world knows they are his disciples. They are to serve, not argue about how great their works are. They are to share the good news in humility.
Simultaneously, as giving them these commands, he also tells them that he's leaving to be with his father. He tells them they cannot go with him. Jesus tells them He is the ONLY way, and one day they will follow. I hear the confusion and fear rising in his friends as I read through the account in the book of John. I stop and think to myself, "I feel like that too. Sometimes what we cannot understand is so hard it can become debilitating. How can we possibly stay in step with what God wants to do through our lives, with so much we don't know? So much we can't see?"
During that walk, Jesus gave them the answer to the unspoken question of how we remain mission-minded in a world full of confusion and unknowns. "I am the vine. You are the branches. Remain in me, and I will remain in you." The vine is the life source of the branch. The branch needs not to worry about producing fruit but is connected to its life source. From the connection, the fruit is simply a response that naturally occurs. In this life of situations I cannot control and things I wish I could, I stay focused on Jesus, trusting His mission will be accomplished.
When life seems confusing, when things pop up that are out of your control, when you struggle to move beyond the mistakes of yesterday, remember these four words, my friends. GOD IS IN CONTROL. Jesus is your life source. Your life will be fruitful if you remain in Him, knowing He will remain in you. Stay Focused on God, and know you're never alone as you walk out into your mission.
Posted in Staying Focused on Jesus
Recent
Archive
2026
January
The Quiet Struggles Right Next to UsThank you... in advanceA New ThingA Personal GodNot a Moment of HesitationFaith, Family, and a Broken JarAll InThe SoapboxLord, Help Me See...Hidden for our GoodBorrowed KeysIncreasing CapacityDo You Feel It?Great BoldnessProlific SeedsChained, but not BoundRoadblocksI Can Do Hard ThingsNot the Easy WayThe OpportunistHoly Ground on the StairwellUrgent Work
February
United with PurposeGod Gives the GrowthWhat about me?A Guilty Mom, a Gracious God, and the Road HomeDiscipline over DesireWhat is your thorn?What does love require of me?Comparison is a ThiefTrying to be holy in a distracted worldReplacementThe Joyful MessengerTwo Wrongs Don't Make a RightBut How Does It End?Holy Intentions, Human DistractionsLive a Worthy LifePray for MeBut is it true?On this DayWords that Build a Better WorldFor What Is True
March
People over ProcessHe CaresA Fuzzy PerspectiveFaith is the Only Currency that CountsLeading through ServingCall to ActionWe are the MinistersLet Me Tell You SomethingBiting my TongueWeird StuffWhy Wait?Are You Looking For Him?The Harvest Starts with PrayerStop the Haggle, Start the SurrenderFairSought AfterServant LeadershipGlory in the MidfieldUnapologetically HisAs Best You CanPositionJesus is our High Priest
April
2025
January
Paralysis of AnalysisA Daily CommitmentChild Like FaithThe Battle of the MindGPSSTOP. THINK. ACT. REVIEW.Let. It. Go.Choosing the Path of MercyQuick to Listen, Slow to SpeakPeacemakersBe Careful What You Wish ForRunYour Old Self Vs. The NewOn Not Loving the WorldLove One AnotherTreasure ChestsWho Sets the Bar?Be the You God Made You to Be
Categories
Tags
no tags
No Comments