In an earlier post of mine I discussed a conversation that I had with God. God seemed to speak to me as with a friend, it was exhilarating and wonderful. Yet it was also challenging in that my mind was trying to discount the experience. In that conversation God strongly impressed upon me saying, “I am the vine and you are the branches”. I immediately understood that God was speaking about
John 15. Let’s take a look at that passage to be mindful of the Scripture:
John 15:1-14 (ESV)
15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 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. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you.
Since then God has emphasized to me that a branch and its vines are a single organism. That we are to realize our spiritual “oneness” with God and how His Spirit and His Life flows through us to produce spiritual fruit in our walk with God, our witness, and with regards to our power. The term that keeps coming to me in the Spirit is that we are to live, “incarnationally”, realizing that we are, in a very real sense, vessels in which God is incarnating Himself. God’s ultimate goal in this spiritual process is to conform us into the very image and likeness of Jesus Himself. In my conversations with God, God seems to not be very pleased with “religion” or what He calls, “lists” (lists of standards, traditions, and legalisms). His primary concern regarding these things is that we become conformed into the image and likeness of the list. And therefore if we are conformed into the image of our “lists” we become conformed into an “interpretation” of Scripture, the likeness of a pastor, a church, a denomination, or movement. Our growth is more carnal and outward, reflecting the religions of this world, and not inward transformation into the very image of Christ Himself.
And so began a conversation between me and God regarding what it means to be “holy” and what He desires of us. God’s answer to me was rather simple. Being “holy” means to be like Jesus. Nothing more. Nothing less. What God desires is a single action… love. Not just a frilly emotional love, but the pouring out of “divine love”… His love. God brought these Scriptures to mind to drive the point home….
Matthew 22:37-40
King James Version (KJV)
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Romans 13:9
For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Galatians 5:14
For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Thus all God truly desires of us is that we do two things:
1.) Love Him with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength.
2.) Demonstrate our love for Him by loving others as ourselves.
God emphasized how divine love will never bring harm to the object of its affection. Therefore divine love will never murder, commit adultery, lie, steal, blaspheme, etc. Thus loving with divine love… fulfills the heart of the law in one single action. It divorces keeping the law from individual actions (works) and elevates fulfilling the law to being a “state of being”, being loving. Since God is love itself, being loving is essentially being… like God.
TO BE CONTINUED...
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