Failure is the cause of being detached or disconnected. If a given opportunity is not taken, destruction becomes inevitable because further detachment leads to death… Get connected!
To be connected is to always have access to the needed source which means that whatever you need is always available through this connection which is supplied by the source. We sometimes wonder why a specific person is so successful and when asking around it is said that “He is connected”. A person who is connected have access to things others do not.
The question then is: What is the source you need to be connected to and what do you need to get connected?
Read John 15:1-11.
Abide in me, and I in you. 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. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he [is the one that] bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing (John 15:4-5 ESV).
The Father cares for everyone connected to Jesus (John 15:1-3)
- Jesus is the actual vine, the true source of God’s riches and blessing. God the Father is the Proprietor and Caretaker of the vine. Jesus makes it clear here that He is depended on the Father and that they always work together (John 15:1). We also read about God the Father and Jesus the Word working together in John 1:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made (John 1:1-3 ESV).
- God is the Caretaker which takes away the branch that bears no fruit by lifting them from the ground. This gives the branch an opportunity to bear fruit. Those branches who already bears fruit is pruned to bear even more fruit. God the Father’s goal is to care for the vine and the branches in such a way that it will produce more fruit (John 15:2).
- At first glance the next verse seems to be out of place not fitting into the story Jesus is telling. Jesus is saying to the disciples that they are already clean because of the words He had spoke to them (John 15:3). Paul also speaks about Jesus Christ cleansing the church by the washing of the word (Ephesians 5:26). Isaiah (1:16) talks about being washed as to cease from doing evil. Malachi (3:1-2) likened the Messiah to a refiner’s fire and the launderers’ soap. In Leviticus (12-14) we also read that sacrificial offerings were made to be cleansed from sickness and sins. Jesus therefore came to cleanse mankind from sin and sickness as our sacrificial offering. This means that those who were changed by Jesus, the Word of God, needs less or even no pruning.
- Let me explain God’s caring with an example. You just received your new car you waited for almost five months after ordering it. You are overly excited and makes a daily effort in caring for it. In the mornings before work you start-up the engine and wait for it to warm up before driving it. You park it in such away that other drivers will not be able to scratch your car with their car-doors. You open and close the doors for the passengers also as to ensure the doors are not scratched or slammed. You regularly make sure the tyre pressure is correct and there is enough oil and petrol in the car. You wash the car at least once a week and only use a specific scratch free cloth and car shampoo. The beauty of this new washed car before your eyes is always worth the effort because of the satisfaction you get out of the car.
- God is also excited about us, His children, and wants to take care of us (Matthew 10:31). He is always with us (Acts 18:10) and provides for us each and everyday (Isaiah 41:10). We can trust God as our Caretaker and Provider because He speaks into our lives, changes and moulds us daily (Psalm 32:8). He also removes us from circumstances and relationships that we should not experience, to protect us and He gives us the strength needed for circumstances that we have to experience (Isaiah 41:10).
- We should therefore stop fearing and trust God to guide us. When trials and tribulations come and we are challenged by many obstacles, we may trust the Lord. He will always guide us making sure that we reach the other side.
- For us to always be able to receive this care from God we need to be connected and stay connected to Him.
Staying connected and receive what ever you desire (John 15:4-8)
- The Greek word “μένω” pronounced “menō” is a verb that means to remain in a given place, state, relation or expectancy (Strong 2008:§G3306). Abide in this context is to stay in a specific relation to Jesus. Thus stay connected!
- We need to be connected to Him as a branch is connected to the vine which give the branch the ability to bear fruit. If the branch is broken off the connection is severed and the branch dries out and dies. This branch is good for nothing else except to make a fire with (John 15:4-6).
- Those branches connected to the vine are the people who are connected to Jesus and listens to the words He speaks. These people are able to receive what ever they desire because they are connected. They can therefore bear much fruit and by so doing give glory to God (John 15:7-8, 1 John 5:14).
- If for example you want to browse the internet you need an internet connection. There are some cheap ways to connect like from a coffee shop’s wi-fi, but it is too slow and your are limited to what you may download. Although you have the biggest and fastest computer, without a proper connection you can do nothing. When you finally decide to install an unlimited ADSL connection at home the whole internet becomes freely available.
- When we are connected to Jesus all the divine riches of God is available for us, which enables us to bear more fruit.
Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust (2 Peter 1:2-4 NKJV).
- With these fruit we are enabled to love and care for other people. It is difficult at times and we may fail to share love, joy and peace with some people, but this is why we trust in Father God. He is faithful and will keep working in us that we may bear more fruit. The important thing is to learn how to stay connected to Jesus.
Stay connected by living a life of love (John 15:9-11)
- Jesus commands us to abide in His love in the same way He abides in God the Father’s love. He does this by doing what the Father had commanded Him. We also abide in Jesus’ love by doing what He had commanded us (John 15:10). Jesus commanded us to love God with our whole beings and our neighbours as ourselves (John 13:34). God the Father loves Jesus and in the same way Jesus loves us and therefore we also need to love (John 15:9-10).
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35 NKJV).
He who does not love does not know God, for God is love (1 John 4:8 NKJV).
- One of the (if not the biggest) reasons we do not abide in Jesus’ love is because we battle to believe that God can love us. Yes we are able to find many reasons why a Holy God cannot love a sinful person. The fact is: “God is Love” and whatever He does is motivated by love (1 John 4:8) (Terblanche 2014). We can therefore be certain of His love for each one of us. Take that step and get connected to Him and allow yourself to receive and experience His love for you.
- When we allow the words of Jesus to saturate us (Job 22:21-27) His joy remains in us and we become overflowed with joy (John 15:9-10). We are then recognised as Jesus’ disciples when we abide in Him and allow others to experience our love for them (John 13:35).
Jesus makes it clear to us that it is important to stay connected by displaying the results of being connected and the consequences of not being connected. Remember this one thing “STAY CONNECTED” to the source of life! Jesus is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6) and I challenge each and everyone to get connected to Jesus and stay connected to Him! We do this by receiving and experiencing Jesus’ love for us, therefore living a life of love. Love God with your whole being and those around you as yourself and your joy will be full!!! Remember: “stay connected through love”!
Die Lewegewer 