14 This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. – Matthew 24:14
While 2020 has certainly presented us with our share of trials and challenges, we are so grateful for the way that the Lord has used it to grow us in our character and bring us to a greater level of dependence on Him.
Now that travel has opened up a bit here in South Africa, I was able to visit a couple of churches in another province this past month to minister and preach. The troubling events across the world in this season only encourage me even more to share the hope of Jesus with others.
As I prayed about what the Lord wanted me to share, He highlighted John 15 – where Jesus tells the disciples that He is the true vine and that they are to remain in Him.
Jesus says that we can do nothing apart from Him. Now it’s one thing to acknowledge this truth. But it’s another thing for our lives to actually reflect this level of dependence on Him in the way we spend our time, prioritize our lives, and make decisions.
Jesus also tells them that the Father prunes and cuts us even when we are already bearing fruit in our lives, so that we we may be bear even more fruit and show ourselves to be His true disciples. Knowing this fact, we should both expect God’s pruning as well as actively seek it out as we go through different seasons in life.
May we remain in Him and may our lives bring glory to God in everything we do.