As we begin the year, we all hope that 2021 will be better than the previous year. 

The reality of life though is that we have control over 60 to 70% of what happens to us, and sometimes, no control at all.

Look at the last year’s pandemic. COVID-19 took over everything in our daily living. It dictated and imposed on us a different way to operate as individuals, organizations, Churches, and society. 

Even as we can’t control everything, as humans, we can still choose not to let the forces behind what happens to us dictate how we should relate to God and each other. 

Doing so is part of our covenant, which means two things, which I discuss with you in the following lines, and drawing on John 15:1-17.

It’s a long scripture, but very fundamental to what will help us go through this New Year together. 

 

 

We can do nothing apart from Christ

 

 

Jesus said these words: 

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5. 

Society, and technology, today, make us think on our own, we can do all things, including being a Church. 

That’s very wrong! 

Think of how COVID disrupted the whole world last year. Do you think we really have full control over everything? 

No, we don’t. That’s why you and I all need Christ! 

What we should do is to stay connected with Christ (the true vine). We always have to remember that we are the branches. 

Branches, on their own, can’t survive. Because of not being connected to the vine, they may be ok for a day or so. But, they will eventually wither and die. 

When we, as the branches, remain in Christ, and His word in us, we will bear much fruit. 

Not only will we bear much fruit, but God will also do so much in us and through us (see verse 7). 

Lastly, when we bear much fruit, we glorify God our Father. Everyone else will see us as true and faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. 

Read these verses: 

If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. (John 15:6-8). 

 

 

We show God’s love to all when we stay connected to Christ

 

 

Read the following verses: 

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other. John 15:9-17. 

God wants us to remain in God’s love through Christ. When we choose to remain in God’s love, we also learn how to love others. 

[bctt tweet=”Greater and true love is sacrificial! ” username=”emmanuelnaweji”]

Loving God means we choose to let go of what we cherish for the sake of our neighbors. 

That’s our calling. God has appointed us to bear that kind of fruit: love of neighbor, which comes out of remaining in God’s love through Christ. 

Because of choosing to remain in God’s love, Christ calls us His friends. And, He teaches us every He learned from His Father. 

In other words, through the power of the Holy Spirit, remaining in God’s love gives us access to so much power. This power of God enables us, not only to love our neighbors but to sacrificially show it. 

 

 

Bringing it together

 

On this day, we renew our covenant to love and serve God. We renew our covenant to love and serve each other through Christ who strengthens us. We can only achieve the above by remaining in the Love of God through Christ who is the vine with us the branches.