I have the privilege of ministering to a group of men at a prison not far from my home. I love interacting with them personally, asking and answering questions. One man recently expressed his frustration that Christian prisoners so often “leave God behind” when released.


But a “god” who is so easily discarded is not the God of Scripture. God’s love for His people is a love that abides. He heals the backsliding of His children and causes them to bear spiritual fruit because of His everlasting love for them in Jesus (Hosea 14:4-5). The true Christian is one who has the same Spirit dwelling in him that raised Jesus from the dead (Romans 8:11). He humbly rests in dependence upon the Spirit for every
step he takes.


In today’s passage, Jesus illustrates this principle with the figure of a vine and branches. The branch draws its life from the vine to which it is connected. Without Christ, we can do nothing. But in Him, we can do all things because He Himself is our strength and life (Philippians 4:13).