TRUE FOLLOWERS
I noticed something about God, and that is that He is pretty quiet unless I inquire of Him. He waits for me to ask His opinion before He gives it. He isn’t forceful, but wise in waiting for me to realize I need Him and that I can't do anything without Him.
Jesus said that in John 15. He said we can do nothing without Him, that we have to abide in Him.
John 15:15 I am the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser.2 Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit [that stops bearing] He cuts away (trims off, takes away); and He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit. 3 You are cleansed and pruned already, because of the word which I have given you [the teachings I have discussed with you].4 Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you. [Live in Me, and I will live in you.] Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me. 5 I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.6 If a person does not dwell in Me, he is thrown out like a [broken-off] branch, and withers; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, and they are burned.7 If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.8 When you bear (produce) much fruit, My Father is honored and glorified, and you show and prove yourselves to be true followers of Mine. Amp.
I think even though many of us already know this, we still make our own plans without consulting with God first. We often think we are doing what God has planned for us: we get a hint of what His plan for us is, but we don’t wait to hear the whole plan before we take off with it.
I am really good at halfway listening and it gets me into trouble every time. I recall a time in the beginning when God called me to go for Him; I was so excited, yet so unsure of what I should do. I didn’t sit long enough to hear the whole plan and came up with the idea to volunteer at the hospital as an assistant Chaplain. I wanted to teach others how to be healed. It was very discouraging though because no one was interested.
I had gone a few times before I inquired of God, asking Him what the problem was. Almost instantly I heard Him say. “Return the key.” He said it was a nice gesture, but not what He called me to do. I felt relieved and excited all at the same time. Why? Well for one, I didn't have to go back to the hospital, and for the other, I love it when God speaks to me and He gets me back on track.
I have never grown tired of God speaking to me. I am in awe of His voice and the fact that He would take the time to say something to me. I don’t want to be off of the path God has for me, therefore I love correction. I want to do what He is calling me to do. When we are doing God’s plan, it is rewarding and brings us true joy.
It is so important that we are connected to the vine. That He abides in us and we in Him. It is vital that we go to God for His approval, for His direction and correction. The way to hear God is to be listening; He will not force Himself on us. I am so glad He corrected me that day. I am so glad He is in love with me, that He wants only good for me, and that He would take the time to correct me.
Wouldn't it be a shame to stand before Him on that day, and He had to say, “That was nice of you but not what I called you to do.”? We need to hear God, it is vital that we live abiding in Him so that we are not living our lives in vain.
He is the vine we are the branches if we are connected to Him, if His Word abides in us, if we abide in Him, then we can ask whatever we will, and He will do it.
That means when we are residual, unmovable, not wavering from our connection to God. When we are engaged in His interests, promptly obeying all He tells us to do, we will be able to ask what we will and it will be done for us. Why? His will, His intentions, and His thoughts, will be ours and ours His.
Then we will show to be true followers of His.