Oh, What a Friend!

 

She walked slowly, uncertainly in direct contrast to the people hurrying, coming and going around her. As I drew abreast I heard a most definite sniff and so turned to ask if she was okay. Hardly pausing, she answered, “It’s my sister. Her baby just died.” For brief moments I matched her pace as fresh tears filled her eyes. What does one say in such a case?

“I am sorry, so sorry for your loss,” I responded. “This must be so hard for her …”

“Nine months and now this ... all the preparation …”

“Yes, I can only imagine how hard going home to the nursery is going to be. I am so sorry. I know this is going to be painful for your family.”

Not much more to be said. We walked on in silence for a minute or two before exchanging smiles, a pat on the shoulder, muffled thanks, and parting at the foot of the stairs.

I quickly sent up a prayer for the grieving mother and her family and fervently hoped there would be someone among them who knew the comfort Jesus brings.

What a friend WE (believers, those in a relationship with the Savior) have in Jesus! And how often we take that for granted. At our lowest ebb we can still rest assured somewhere hidden in the worst tragedy, are the ingredients to work things out for our good. Now I am not saying God causes horrid things to happen in order to bring good. Rather, he takes the bad that either comes to tempt us or the reverses that occur because we are still children of the Fall, and cancels the damage. In the end, every situation has redemptive value.

Much of this I don’t fully understand. Like you I am getting on-the-job-training. But every so often, the 20/20 look back happens. I am suddenly able to see the hand of God orchestrating every note of deliverance just when I thought the music in my life had faded for good.

You may have physical death in your family or a series of emotional deaths, each with their payload of grief. God is able, is with you, and promises “all [your] sins and griefs to bear.” Use your privilege as a child of the King, and take “everything to God in prayer.”

Life in the Vine

 

Text John 15: 4-6

 

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned (NIV).

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing . 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered ; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned  (KJV).

Remain united to me, and I will remain united to you. A branch cannot bear fruit by itself; it can do so only if it remains in the vine. In the same way you cannot bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 "I am the vine, and you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will bear much fruit; for you can do nothing without me. 6 Those who do not remain in me are thrown out like a branch and dry up; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, where they are burned (The Message).

A.    Christ emphatically states fruit bearing is a process that cannot be accomplished through the dictates of culture or simply doing one’s own thing.

 Abide in me, and I in you; as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, &c.--As all spiritual fruitfulness had been ascribed to the mutual inhabitation, and living, active interpenetration (so to speak) of Christ and His disciples, so here the keeping up of this vital connection is made essential to continued fruitfulness.

5. without me--apart, or vitally disconnected from Me.
ye can do nothing--spiritually, acceptably.

6. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch . . . withered . . . cast into the fire . . . burned--The one proper use of the vine is to bear fruit; failing this, it is good for one other thing--fuel. (See Ezekiel 15:1-5 ). How awfully striking the figure, in this view of it![1]

Fruit – Most frequently “fruit” is the total results from any specific action or disposition. The fruit produced may be evil (Matt 3:10; 7:15-20; 12: 33; Luke 6:43-44a; Romans 7:5), but more often good(Psalm 104:13; Matt. 3:8, Jams 3:17). John 15:1-16 illustrate how God produces life among men. In like fashion disciples are urged to “bear fruit.  [2]

2. As Gentiles we are grafted into Israel, the real olive tree. In actuality, in Christ we are grafted into more than a nation, we have become part of Christ himself – primary grafting. Christ will do a secondary grafting, a tertiary – or a whatever number if we ever find ourselves separated from our source. “Graft – Rom.11:17-24, A slip of cultivated plant is inserted (grafted) into the stock of a common one. Paul used the figure to illustrate how Gentile believers have been grafted into the stock of faithless Israel, but he warned the new branch could be cut away if proven faithless.”[3]

 3. Christ calls us all to allow the Holy Spirit to bear fruits through us. “22 But the Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 humility, and self-control (Good News). Fruit bearing is not personal effort. Rather it is the life of Christ expressed through us, as we remain connected to him.

We therefore conclude even believers who find themselves disconnected do not have to die. Christ says, “come” and whoever comes to him he will not turn away. Separated believers can turn to Christ and live again.

 

God's Mysterious Ways

God is taking us in a wide circle all the way back to the people we knew, grew up with, or led in the past - I mean like 30 plus years past. The best thing about it is that we are all still in church, still seeking the depths of the knowledge of God.

Here in Connecticut, we have the choice to worship with friends in New York, New Jersey, as well as Hartford or Bridgeport, CT. One could call this one of the perks of being a Travel Nurse. I promise to do two pieces: The Trouble with Travel and The Triumphs of Travel Nursing and believe me there are plenty of both.

Certainly the trouble would include just the wear and tear of moving stuff so frequently and the need to jump in with both feet into a new environment every twelve weeks or so. Triumph is the novelty - new people, places and experiences. Traveling on someone else's dime  for the most part and having the choice to do what you love where you want to ...