Fellowship With The Word

One of the most important lessons one can learn about communication is that the message is not about you. It's all about the audience. And if there's someone who mastered this perfectly, it was Jesus. The most perfect communicator. The opening verse is popularly interpreted to mean that if you are unproductive to God, he cuts you off, or that your connection or relationship with God is not a permanently secured one, and you'd have to make sure you maintain it. But when we consider Jesus's audience, we'll also conclude that that's not how they understood it. The English phrase "take away" was translated from the Greek "airo. It means "to lift, raise up, or keep in suspense". As a master communicator who understands his audience, we realize they were familiar with the agricultural practice of lifting up a weak or overly heavy branch to provide support. Think about it, even the worst parents usually seek to cover and support their children and bend themselves over backward even to the most wayward of their children. It's rather unfortunate that many people subtly or unconsciously think themselves better parents than God. The proper understanding of that scripture is that the Father supports those who are weak and exposes them to what they need to be strong and grow. It is the Father who helps us grow as we spend time in His word. He is our Source and Sustenance. It is the responsibility of the Vine to produce nutrients to the branch, and it's the responsibility of the Vine Dresser to expose branches to sunlight. God is a good Father. His character is consistent and revealed as love (1 John 4v8). Jesus perfectly represented and embodied Him, being the ultimate expression of the Father's love. He was literally persecuted because he hung out with those who were considered the worst. How different would God be from our corporate circles and business people if he only wanted the best and strongest to work with? He makes the best from the worst of men. He makes the strongest out of the weakest of men. That's what he's in you to do. To cause you to grow into that image of Christ as you behold him (2 Cor 3v18). If you're struggling and inconsistent, look to Jesus. He lives in you as the Holy Spirit to make and mold you into His character. “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” Philippians 2:13 NLT Depend on him for your perfection and trust that he is for you “...If God has determined to stand with us, tell me, who then could ever stand against us? ” Romans 8:31 TPT Prayer: Father, you've been emphatic about the assurance that we have in Christ. My hope is fixed on you. You've determined to stand with me, and I'm so grateful for the ministry of your Spirit in my life. I pray these words take root in my heart and embolden my confidence in your love, in Jesus' name. Amen.

Understanding the Character of God