Remaining: Apart from Him We Can Do Nothing

When I fly, I hate connecting through Chicago. Why? Besides the potential of weather delays, both O'Hare airport and Midway airport have limited their free wi-fi to your first 20 minutes. Houston, Denver, Cleveland, Bozeman, Orlando, and others have unlimited free wi-fi. I'd much rather spend time in those airports, wouldn't you?

Imagine having the latest iPhone or iPad, but no WIFI to use it. How would you ever stay connected on Facebook or Instagram? Or more importantly, how would you stay up to date on the scores on ESPN. Without that connection, you’re left with a blank screen.

An ongoing connection with Jesus is absolutely essential if we’re going to bear fruit spiritually. We must "remain in him." Just like a branch withers and is fruitless when it is disconnected from the vine, we too wither and remain fruitless when we’re disconnected from Jesus.

Read Galatians 2:20 and Romans 8:34.

Read Hebrews 1:3.

Jesus is at the Father's right hand in heaven, praying for you and sustaining you, helping you and strengthening you to walk as a disciple and bear fruit. He is also living inside you in the person of the Holy Spirit, giving you power to bear fruit.

Read Acts 1:8.

Read Galatians 2:20.

"Christ lives in me!” He is not currently living on planet earth in physical form, where we can see Him, talk to Him and get direction and encouragement from Him. However, He does live inside us, and we can talk to Him, asking for sustaining strength to bear fruit by making and multiplying disciples. We can also ask for direction and get encouragement from reading the Bible.

Remaining in Christ means having an active relationship with Him, spending time with Him daily (like you're doing with this 40 Day devotional), asking Him to lead you to whom you should reach out to, and asking Him for the power to do it, just as He promised His disciples in Acts 1:8. If you stay connected to Jesus in this way, you will be able to bear much fruit!

Read Matthew 25:14-30.

Whatever level of ability or giftedness (Matthew 25:15) God has entrusted to you, leverage it to bear much fruit for Jesus. You will be rewarded, both in this life and in the life to come. You will live your life with a sense of joy and purpose, and then in heaven you will receive great treasure! And maybe best of all, one day Jesus will say to you, "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share in your master's happiness!" Remain. It’s so worth it!