“Never rebel for the sake of rebelling, but always rebel for the sake of truth.”

“The relative freedom which we enjoy depends on public opinion. The law is no protection. Governments make laws, but whether they are carried out, and how the police behave, depends on the general temper in the country. If large numbers of people are interested in freedom of speech, there will be freedom of speech, even if the law forbids it; if public opinion is sluggish, inconvenient minorities will be persecuted, even if laws exist to protect them.” ― George Orwell (1903 – 1950: English novelist, essayist and journalist)

Gospel Text: (JN 15:1-8)

Jesus said to his disciples:

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.

He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit,

and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.

You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you.

Remain in me, as I remain in you.

Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own

unless it remains on the vine,

so neither can you unless you remain in me.

I am the vine, you are the branches.

Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit,

because without me you can do nothing.

Anyone who does not remain in me

will be thrown out like a branch and wither;

people will gather them and throw them into a fire

and they will be burned.

If you remain in me and my words remain in you,

ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you.

By this is my Father glorified,

that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”

What are you abiding in?

Are you abiding in Christ?


Or are you abiding in yourself?


Are you abiding in your job?

Are you abiding in your family?

Video games?

Computers?

TV?


Sports?


Your friends?


Your parents?


How about your good works?


Your ministry?


Your knowledge of theology?


Your self-righteousness?

Each of us have superfluous matter in our lives and the Father is coming to reduce it! He will. Whether we realize it or not we all have been through this. Sadly, “pruning” hurts. No doubt about it, pruning is a painful experience that God takes us all through in our life’s journey. The Father’s desire is to conform us into the image of Christ and he’ll do that be cutting away the junk from our life. That junk might be a job, or a friend, or money, or comfort, or luxuries, or even our very health.

So once again the question is, “What are you abiding in”?