Jesus is the Vine

We want to adopt perhaps 2 orphans from overseas orphanage.  But I realize how weak I am.  I am not sufficient for this task.  I am trying to prepare myself, save money, get my body stronger through exercise, prepare my home, etc.  And we're encouraged by the progress (that He is in).  But I still can't do any of this in my own strength.  I'm selfish by nature.  The biggest preparation I need to do is on my heart, as I will need to love with the love of Christ (1 Corinithans 13 love), that every child needs.  I hope to present Jesus to them, and how can I do that without Him.

We are not seeking "good works" to earn God's favor.  We don't believe that when we die, God will look at our good deeds and our bad deeds and say, "OK, you adopted some orphans even though you were living pretty selfishly at other times, so we'll let you in."  We are resting in his finished work on the cross that we have accepted.

Our motives are for His joy in being a branch on the vine and simply bearing fruit for Him.

I hope that whatever "fruit" we do is in Him, not just adoption.

This is from one of my favorite chapters in Scripture, John 15.  Where Jesus is giving important last words to his disciples before he leaves this world.  Don't overlook the last verse, these things are for our joy, that is His joy.

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 bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. 3“You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. 5“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. 6“If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. 7“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8“My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. 9“Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. 10“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. 11“These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.  

I can't add anything to that, so wanted this to be short.

On a side note, but not entirely unrelated:  Happy Shavout!  It was on this day that Moses received the 10 Commandments on Mount Sinai.  The Day of Pentecost was already being celebrated by Israel before Jesus came.  But just as Jesus died during Passover, so He sent His Holy Spirit on another holiday, the Day of Pentecost, and so the day means something special to the Church.  We cannot keep the Law, it is impossible.  We may not have murdered, but we have hated.  Christ was able to keep the Law because He was God.  We have the very life of Him for those who believe, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and the ability to bear fruit, even as we live in these bodies.  Praise God!