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| |  | Michael Fox CPCC,
founder of m�agine!,
is a professional
coach and trainer,
author and creative artist, whose work has been featured throughout
the world.
Michael is a
Certified Practitioner
of the
Myers-Briggs
Type Indicator.�
Do you know someone
who might benefit
from our weekly email?
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I am the vine, you are the branches;
he who abides in Me, and I in him,
he bears much fruit;
for apart from Me
you can do nothing
(John 15:5).
Our culture makes it difficult not to focus on outcomes. Most of us are paid by our clients and employers based upon outcomes. I have yet to receive a paycheck in return for my best of intentions. It's natural then for you and I to assume responsibility for outcomes in our relationship with God. It's natural, but it's not natural. Jesus, mistaken for the gardener following his resurrection--how funny and ironic is that?--attributed a healthy harvest of grapes to the dynamic relationship shared by the vine and its branches. "He who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit."
It's the responsibility of Christ followers--not to bear fruit--but to abide in the vine.
But what did Jesus mean when he said, "Abide in me?" The sense of Jesus' words is clarified when we recall his earlier invitation, "Come to me":
Come to Me,
all who are weary and heavy-laden,
and I will give you rest.
Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me,
for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.
For My yoke is easy and My burden is light
(Matthew 11:28-29).
Jesus' invitation to the weary is two-fold: "Come to me. Abide in me." If Jesus' initial invitation, "Come," calls men and women to draw near, then his encouragement, "Abide," means "to continue, to remain, to stay, to be faithful."
Come. Abide.
Both invitations are wrapped up in the Apostle John's story of Jesus preaching to a group of those "who had believed Him" (John 8:31-32). "If you abide [continue, remain, stay, be faithful] in my word," Jesus promised, one, "you are truly disciples of mine"; two, "you shall know--or come to have an experiential relationship with--the truth"; and, three, "the truth will make you free."
True disciples of Jesus not only come to him, they abide in him. Imagine Jesus saying, as author Andrew Murray imagined, "You did well to come; you do better to abide."
What kind of fruit does Jesus and his disciples--the vine and the branches--yield? (Cf. Galatians 5:22-23.)
How might you become easier to live with when you surrender--or, at the very least, "loosen your grip" around--outcomes? (Hint: take a long look at the nature of "the fruit of the spirit.")
Jesus, in John 8:31-32, named three benefits of abiding in him: one, "you are truly disciples of mine"; two, "you shall know the truth"; and, three, "the truth will make you free." How might these three benefits improve your life and relationships, with both God and neighbor?
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Michael Fox
m�agine!
530/613.2774
407 Myrtle Drive
Farmerville, LA, USA 71241 |
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In addition to personal and professional coaching,
m�agine! specializes in spiritual transformation coaching,
employing its proprietary models
--Values, Vision, Voice and Heart, Soul, Mind & Strength--
as well as
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator� curriculum
published by CPP, the People Development People.
Michael's books include
Complete in Christ,
Complete in Christ Spiritual Transformation Workbook,
and Biblio�files.
Coaching fees are based upon a sliding scale. Contact us for details.
For additional information, visit our website at maginethepossibilities.net.
Limited scholarships are available for spiritual transformation coaching.
On the flip side, if you are able, please inquire about opportunities
to fund scholarships for those who cannot afford coaching fees.
View our archives!
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