7/6/12 3:18 a.m.
Watch out for hypocrisy in yourself and others. Remember your roots and your foundation. Your example one way or another affects others. Be a positive example. Every decision counts. Be wise and be consistent. Others are watching closely, some very closely. Know your limits and your impact. Pray for wisdom and guidance. I give freely to those who ask with a pure heart. Be mindful of these things at all times. I am your guide and your light. Listen to and follow Me and success will be yours. Kingdom success. Know that I love you and believe in you. You are chosen. Do My will today and every day. Come to the water for strength. Come daily. Come often. We are in this together. You cannot do My will without Me. Otherwise; it is not My will. Do not be fooled. I am the key to your daily success. Come daily.
In the Bible, also known as the inspired Word of God, there are commands for living. Much like the creator of anything provides instructions for its first and best use, the God who created us provided Biblical instruction that, if followed, would result in a life well lived, the best possible outcome. God’s commands for living are pure, loving, and perfect, a direct representation of His perfection and holiness. Humans, Christians included, are not perfect. Herein lies a dilemma. If we rely on our own ability, Christians will do a poor job of representing God well and non-Christians will not be motivated to seek Him.
In the Bible, Jesus, who is God in the flesh, describes Himself as the Vine and His followers the branches. The branches carry the DNA of the vine they are attached to. Likewise, the water and nutrients derived from the vine’s roots provide health and vitality to the branches. The opposite is also true. When branches are detached from the vine, they whither and eventually die. In this image, we see Jesus as the source of goodness and life. By attaching ourselves to Him, we inherit His DNA and all the goodness and beauty that come with it. Goodness and beauty that overflow to others.
Jesus is also described as the Cornerstone. Wikipedia defines the cornerstone as the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation. All other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure. In this image, we see Jesus, who is perfectly Holy, as a sure foundation, keeping the remainder of the structure attached to Him sturdy, straight, and strong. In the illustrations above, it is important to understand that no one else is described this way in the Bible. Jesus is the only True Vine and the only Foundation on which to build our life. There is no substitute. The goodness (righteousness) gifted to us through our connection to Jesus is the righteousness which belongs to Jesus Himself. Apart from Him, there is no righteousness. Apart from Him, there is no lasting success. He is our crucial connection.
“Remain in me, as I also 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. 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.” (John 15:5 NIV)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23a NIV)
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” (Matthew 7:24-27 ESV)