Grafted-In Abiding

GRAFTED-IN ABIDING

Part 3 of 12 in Train to Reign Series

John 15:5

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I am in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.”

Graft means to attach, join together, insert, or embed. Grafting is used in horticulture [hort-i-kul-ture] is plant science for human use. Grafting joins together plant parts, like joining a bud into another (different plant’s) stem, root, or branch using tissue regeneration. ([Re-jen-er-A-shon] means renewal or rebirth). This new plant can duplicate itself.

http://www.britanica.com/EBchecked/topic/272484/horticulture/34646/Grafting. 2/6/2013.

When people accept Jesus as Savior and Lord of their lives, they’re grafted into the vine of Jesus Christ. Immediately upon salvation, the Holy Spirit comes to live inside that person. His jobs include counseling, comforting, guiding people to truth, and transforming them into the likeness of Christ. (That’s what sanctification [sank-tif-i-KA-shon] means).

Check out Jesus’ A-LIST of grafted in qualities:

Abiding in Jesus also comes at salvation. Abiding in Jesus is how we get the nourishment, encouragement and leading that our souls crave. Abiding in Jesus is the only way disciples can serve others the way that Christ directs.

Christ directs His disciples’ service three ways. Jesus shows us to be aware of needy people. The lesson, linked below, teaches Jesus’ divine appointment with a man up a tree. Zacchaeus was too small to see Jesus over the crowd, so he climbed a sycamore-fig tree. The treetop’s line-of-sight allowed Zacchaeus to see everything. As Jesus passed the tree, He looked up.

We’re to look up and spot people who need the Lord, too.

Jesus simply declared that He was going to Zacchaeus’ house today. He didn’t make an appointment. TODAY, Zacchaeus! No stalling, no time to get ready. TODAY! This shows Jesus’ followers to be available right now. Tomorrow is uncertain. People delay encounters with all kinds of excuses. But when “now” brings opportunities to tell others about Jesus, we’re to act.

Zacchaeus didn’t get a shower or clean his house. He accepted Jesus into his house immediately. Jesus is a come-as-you-are God, filthy rags, and all. The indwelling Holy Spirit cleans people up AFTER we come to Christ.

Take Home Nugget

Jesus insists that we abandon selfish desires. “Then He said to them all: ‘If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.’” (Luke 9:23).

Did you think that Train to Reign would be easy? Only when we yield to Jesus as Lord can our lives become a living expression of the One who came to be servant to all.

Brother Jesus, Help me as I strive to follow You. You’re a tough act to follow! Amen.

J.D. Griffith

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