Welcome, friend! We’re excited you’ve taken time out of your busy-busy to peek at the Facets’ thoughts. Thanks for making the cyber-trek and the time. This month is an opportunity to think about our dreams. Tracy offered 7 ways to realize your dreams, a fantastic read. Next week, Kim will offer her thoughts. Don’t miss Tuesdays when posts go live; or better, subscribe to receive the posts in your inbox.
Once upon a time I (Jennifer) was a “resolutionist.” But I was like so many who set lofty resolutions for a new year and break them by the third week, or day, or hour into the goals. I lost interest in breaking promises to myself. (Tell me I’m not alone, friend!) When someone introduced me to My One Word—BOOM!—I had a new way to think. Soon I was dreaming of the possibilities in the word, and I still do. This year’s word came from an intimate conversation with God about who I am in his eyes. No doubt, I always want to hear encouraging whispers to my heart from my Daddy-God. (One day I’ll share more about this year’s word, but not today.)
The question this month at Facets asks me to think intentionally about my big dreams. I know I have little “everyday dreams” that basically amount to wishes. A question has been echoing since this topic was chosen: What do I want in this life—what do I really, really want?
Having begun the journey of my word for 2019, a fat, juicy tendril is growing off the main vine. Turns out, what I want most is a significant life. I don’t mean popular in the culture or high in status. That’s not me, but I’m an Enneagram 1, the Reformer, if that tells you anything. What I know is this: I’m full of strengths and talents that can be used to help and bless others. Guess where the best parts of me (and you) come from? They are gifts from God. Since he has gifted them, it’s only fitting to acknowledge that and use them in service to him and those around me.
When I answer the question that way, I immediately think of Jesus’ teaching about the fruitful, significant life that really comes from the Lord. Take a look at John 15 with me; we may both find real, significant life. Jesus is with his inner circle, the disciples, and I imagine a walk through a vineyard becoming “a teachable moment.”
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. John 15 ESV
He sets up the characters: God the Father is the “vinedresser,” the one who tends every part of the vine; Jesus is “the true vine,” which assumes there are others; and the followers are the branches connected to the vine. The Father works in the vineyard; he removes fruitless branches and prunes the fruit-bearing ones. Why? Because big, leafy grapevines are pretty but not what they’re grown for. Hard pruning causes a vine to produce fruit!
This applies to our lives: if we say we are disciples, we place ourselves in that “branch” place. If our lives reflect the close following the disciples did—listening to, trusting, and obeying Jesus’ teaching—we can be called “clean” too. That’s the beginning of real life, eternal life, the significant kind. And it doesn’t have to be a dream. Actualizing real life is simply choosing Jesus. (If you’re confused at this point, let’s talk!)
Jesus continues:
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. John 15 ESV
Abide. That means to live in; to remain. The vitality in a branch comes from connection to the healthy vine. A leafy branch off the vine produces exactly nothing. That is not life.
5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. John 15 ESV
Jesus is the vine, and his disciples are connected branches. Life flows from the vine outward, and beautiful fruit grows. Healthy branches are connected, and they should stay there. Dr. J. Vernon McGee reminds us
If we are in Christ, we should stay there. The connection can be broken, as Jesus warned Peter in the foot washing moment; we can have nothing to do with God. ¹
Abiding is a choice.
7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. John 15 ESV
The vine’s lifeblood is in the abiding. If we remain connected to Jesus, and if his words remain in our minds and hearts (as evidenced by our thoughts, words, and actions)—then something important happens. Intimate relationship with Jesus and choosing to learn and embrace his words leads to a couple of things: a regular, two-way prayer conversation with God and prayers that reflect his heart and (often) his will. In other words, we ask for things he loves to say yes to; we want what God wants!
Over time my thoughts, words, and actions can look more like Jesus and less like selfish Jen. Look, little grapes are growing! At least, I really want that to be true. (Yeah, I still make a colossal mess of things at times. *Sigh*) I’m thankful the disciples are so obviously and gloriously imperfect in everyday life with Jesus, and then the Spirit filling them changes everything. It gives me hope.
8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. John 15 ESV
Wait. What? If we stay connected, and if we keep his word fresh in our minds, God is glorified. Other people see the life as good fruit on our little pruned-branch selves. We don’t grow it; it flows from the life we receive through connection with Jesus. Then other branches connect to the vine because of what they’ve seen. (Often “fruit” in the New Testament points toward a disciple’s significant impact on others knowing and trusting Jesus for life.) No one chooses to connect to Jesus because of our perfection (we are flawed); they come because of HIS perfection!
And then what? Then we don’t just say we follow Jesus—we prove we follow Jesus.
Friend, that’s the significant life I want, the dream I have unfolding little by little. I hope to live a transforming life in which others see or hear about Jesus and want him. On a good day, I think I spot grapes plumping up. Other days, I imagine the pruning shears doing necessary work. Either way, I dream of abiding and having a life that is exciting and joy-filled and beautiful. (Jesus, let’s do this thing!)
Now one of my “everyday dreams” is to hear your thoughts and dreams! What’s your biggest, way-out-there, God-sized dream? Share in the comments below or on our Facebook Page. Thanks, friend!
¹ https://www.blueletterbible.org/audio_video/mcgee_j_vernon/Jhn/John.cfm#John_15_6_11. Jan 07, 2019.
Scripture sourced from bible.com.
