Counsel #4 — Connected With The Vine

Picture: Counsel #4 — Connected With The VineCSL 46.1

How can you bear fruit? Jesus says you must abide in Him, and He in you. This means staying connected with Him, constantly receiving His Spirit, continually surrendering unreservedly to do what He asks. As a grapevine branch constantly draws sap from the main living vine to live, so you must cling to Jesus to receive by faith His strength and perfect character.^{[45]The Desire of Ages, p. 676} Disconnecting from Jesus means there will be no growth or fruitfulness, resulting in being cut off from His presence and blessing (see John 15:6).^{[46]https://www.ministrymagazine.org/archive/2013/12/abundant-and-abiding-fruit-bearing}CSL 46.2

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 NKJVCSL 46.3

“There may be an apparent connection with Christ without a real union with Him by faith. A profession of religion places [people] in the church, but the character and conduct show whether they are in connection with Christ. If they bear no fruit, they are false branches.” Ellen White in The Desire of Ages, p. 676CSL 46.4

Reflect: In what ways do you know that you are connected with the Vine?CSL 46.5