Eileen’s Blog: Part 10: Summary: Live as though you are loved- because you are!
Entwined like a Vine
Jesus’ desire for us, and mission to us is often misunderstood. I wrote this 10-part blog to make it clearer. Before he finally left his disciples, described in John Chapter 15, he used the picture of the vine to help them visualise how he saw the connection between the human and the divine. It is entirely organic and interdependent. There is no separation, or distance or even dissimilarity. It is clear that he is describing an intimacy, a closeness that began when we began. We as a species became dysfunctional when we drifted away from this. Jesus came, quite simply, to restore it, not through a set of religious or ethical rules and regulations, but through a renewed and dynamic relationship.
Please read the following words carefully and hear his heart for you as if you were atthat meeting with him and the other disciples.
John 15
(The Mirror Study Bible)
15:1 I am the authentic vine! My Father is the farmer.
15:4 Our seamless union, you in me and I in you, is pictured in the vine: the shoot cannot bear fruit outside of this union. In its abiding in the vine, fruit happens naturally - as with your abiding in me. 15:5 I am the vine and you are the branches; it is the one who understands this mutual union that naturally bears much fruit - which is impossible to happen apart from me.
15:2 Every offshoot in me that does not bear fruit, he lifts up from the ground and fastens it to the stake, and every fruit bearing part he dresses in order to maximize its yield (the farmer secures the smaller younger branches out of the shade, closer to the light so they become stronger and grapes grow best. Each stage of growth is given special care and attention)
15:15 I do not communicate with you on a slave - boss basis; slaves have no clue what their Master is about to do. I talk to you as my friends telling you everything that I have heard in my conversation and intimate association with my Father. This I explain to you in the clearest possible terms.
15:12 I advise you to discover your love for one another mirrored in my love for you; this is my ultimate mission.
Eileen’s Blog Summary
One: GOD’S PLAN
God doesn’t “have” a plan for our lives. WE are the plan. He is the vine we are inextricably part of, and who entwines around us and supports us as we grow and develop an understanding of our Real Selves so we can function how we were designed to do. We are intimately connected with him, and each other, like the branches of that vine. Each one of us produces good things that benefit ourselves and others, like the lush fruit on the vine. It is Jesus’ teachings about attitudes which reflect God’s heart that provide light, guiding us towards developing in a strong and healthy way. They are our water and nutrient source. His emphasis on unconditional love for ourselves and for others points us in the direction of a lifestyle, in which we can succeed and overcome difficulties. We have free will, we are made in his image and likeness and his original plan has always been for us to live life in partnership, deeply connected, to our Friend Creator, Father. He sent Jesus to show us how to be who we really are, and to bring out the very best in us, while we navigate this problematic world. We are all part of them- Father, Son and Spirit and he wants to show us the way. He loves us as unique individuals and believes implicitly in each one of us.
Two: JESUS MADE IT CLEAR
God has no part in any system aimed at judging, condemning, shaming, blaming or feeding anyone’s self-righteous ego. The Real “Good News” is that there is unique treasure to discover inside of each one of us. Jesus totally identified with humankind, recognising that we are made in the image of our Creator, though often don’t know it. He believed we can find this out for ourselves, with his help, and live the way that he did. Jesus believed fundamental change was possible and his words to every person were designed to open our eyes to a different, more god-like way of living, beneficial to ourselves and those we meet.
Three: LIVING IT OUT
Our upbringing and our culture cannot help us towards this end. Jesus explains the kind of attitudes which lead us to adopting an alternative way of living. They are counter-cultural: exactly the opposite to what we have learnt in the past. This needs both time, consistency, determination and practice to change to this new way of thinking: a mind-set where we realise we are deeply loved and cared for by the invisible father who is made visible in Jesus. If we want to know what God is like, he said, we should look at him. His words help to guide us through the life-time process of adopting another lifestyle, in which we receive help, comfort, assurance, self-realisation and practical understanding of what we call God and our relationship with the divine.
We can only experience the best kind of love through our Creator. This unconditional love requires nothing at all in return. This is another of the most significant aspects we have to embrace to discover who we are. This isn’t gained through effort but by rest, and the peace he shows us how to access. In a toxic world of hardships, discomfort, struggles disappointments and isolation, we need to know for certain that God brings none of these things. He only gives good things and means to bless us. He is the perfect parent, and provider.
Five: TUNING INTO SERENDIPITY
“Serendipity” is not a word we find in the Bible, but an experience we find in life! Unexpected happenings, coincidences, surprises: this is how God brings you what you want or need. He wants to bless you, so be alerr for these things so you don’t miss them when they occur! We don’t have to beg a God who is reluctant to give us what we want and need. Jesus says, ask, seek, knock (Math 7 v 7-8, Luke 11 v9-13, John 16 v13). Expect answers and be on the look out for the improvement, the better and the best, because He only gives good things (James 1v17, Matt. 7 v11). Jesus said that most human parents want the best for their children, despite their own flaws; even the more so, God intends the very best for us in every way. He often provides for us through surprising and unexpected means, so we should look out for good things, and silver linings, even if circumstances seem to contradict them!
Six: BE ON THE LOOK OUT FOR
God wants to work in close partnership with us and wants our life to be an adventure, in which we learn to overcome difficulties with him alongside. He wants us to understand that every person is made in the Creator’s image and has the same God-given ability described in Genesis(Gen 1 v27-29): to manifest what is good, peaceful, up building and enriching, out of what is dark, chaotic or not apparent or even visible just yet (Heb 2 v6-7 Rom 4 v17). He wants to teach us with the help of the Spirit inside us to develop new attitudes which open our eyes to new creative possibilities, however much our circumstances seem to contradict the likelihood! This is what it means to find out who you are: this is the process becoming a follower of Christ.
Seven: ATTITUDES TO CULTIVATE: NEW WAYS OF THINKING TO PRACTISE
See yourself as God sees you: as part of his family, as part of himself. See yourself and others as he does. Treat yourself and others with the same level of care.
He wants us to learn to replace of some of the attitudes which limit and disempower us, with some that strengthen and make us more confident and calmer, despite our past experiences and varying circumstances in this challenging world. He encourages us to:
Acknowledge our lives can change and we can change for the better with divine help
Keep a curious and open mind-set
Be willing to be exposed to new things, which can lead to unexpected connections and discoveries.
Be ready to act and if need be, and ready change the way we do things.
Among those changes are attitudes that lead us to be braver, more selfless, more confident and to see how God sees. A key approach to this learning is humility- not to be confused with weakness or humiliation. Genuine humility is a powerful reflection of the divine nature. Jesus washed the feet of others and said that the greatest is the least, and servant of all. A humble attitude fosters dignity, integrity, a willingness to respect and learn from others, and from unexpected events; to see these as opportunities in our daily life. Of course, we are still dealing with our own ego in a fallen world, which developed as a necessity for survival before we decided to follow this path, but as we begin to practise new habits, it is less and less in control of our responses. If feelings such as self- righteousness or offence begin to present themselves in our minds, we aren’t surprised. However we do we recall that our real identity doesn’t lie with them. It’s not who we are or who we really want to be. We begin by being honest with ourselves and then attempt to re-adjust our attitudes with wisdom and help from the Spirit. This takes time and repetition over years to form new habits, so we must be very patient with ourselves- and with others who are going through the self-same process!
Eight: EXPECT THE OVERFLOW
Overflowing to us, in us and through us: that is God’s ultimate plan. This depends on his grace not our good behaviour. He is determined. He means to bless us! This is the Real Gospel, the Real Good News! He asks us to embrace this reality, even though it comes from the invisible realm, which is at first a strange place to us. That is why Jesus came in a body so we could see and hear and appreciate God (Colossian 1v19, 2v9); so we could fully see what he was fully like He came to prove God can live in a human body like ours. He came into our a broken world, to us that have lived with hardships and difficulties of many kinds. We are only used to dealing things we can experience through our five senses, but he believes in us, because he knows who he made: we are exactly like him and his words can awaken the divine spirit in us. He believes we can change our attitudes, our approach, the way we think, which in turn guides our behaviour towards ourselves and others. He invites us allow that our minds and hearts can be preoccupied, not with fear, worry, blame, and shame, but with knowing we are completely received, deeply loved, cherished and embraced into that family, along with all humankind. He wants us to expect to receive many life-giving and uplifting experiences. This will in turn enable us to overflow with them to others. This is what Jesus called “the kingdom of God”-a constant overflow of generosity, goodness, patience and kindness between people, changing the social atmosphere and creating a new kind of community, which genuinely expresses everything that is good, and therefore everything that is God.
Nine: PEOPLE WHO ARE LOVED:BOTH THEN AND NOW
Many people in the Bible received help from unexpected sources, usually in the middle of difficult circumstances. Many books have been written on this subject! For instance, Mary, Joseph, John and Elizabeth, and the Ethiopian Eunuch in the N.T Book of Acts, which is full of incidents, experiences and adventure. There is also Ruth, Joseph, Elijah, Moses, Hannah, Naaman, the Widow of Zarepheth who took in Elijah and was miraculously fed till famine ended, to name but a few. What is noticeable about all these people is a tendency to be empathetic with others. It seems that generosity and humility as a favoured lifestyle attracts, even enables, the unexpected blessing despite the hardships threats and difficulties. Goodness is a magnet for goodness!
In his final words to the Hebrew church Paul writes: Never let your brotherly love fail, nor refuse to extend your hospitality to strangers—sometimes men have entertained angels unawares! Think constantly of those in prison as if you were prisoners at their side. Think too of all who suffer as if you shared their pain..... God has said: ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’. We, therefore, can confidently say: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’ Heb 3 v 3-6
Regrets from the past, fear of the future, doubt and worry are understandable, but can cause us to be unhelpfully self- absorbed, which is unnecessary for our needs and wants to be met. Surrounded as we are by problems, challenges and lack, we are encouraged to reflect God’s heart, the image we were made to be, and to remain empathetic in every circumstance. We don’t have to totally focus only on our own need to see it met, but can give thought to others and love others as we love ourselves, as Jesus said. This keeps our inner eyes open and alert to imagine, expect and receive the amazing and surprising from Father, Son and Spirit, who continue to love us and are always our help in time of need, just as it was with people in the past. They believes in us and consistently support us to succeed: we have every reason to trust them in the present and every day of our lives whatever we are going through.
Thank you for reading the blog and this summary. In conclusion, please read these last few words, slowly, if possible, to take them in. This is the way Jesus describes how we share the same space, the same love, the same togetherness with them.
John 15:9 The love of the Father for me is my love for you - abide in my love for you!
14:18 At no time will you be orphaned or abandoned by me; I come to abide face to face with you. (I come to be no less face to face with you, than how I’ve always been face to face with the Father from the beginning, for all eternity. The Holy Spirit does not replace but reinforces the presence of Jesus and the closeness of the Father).
John14:1
we are in seamless union with one another! I am in my Father, you are in me and I am in you!
John 15:16
I did not begin in you; you began in me! I am not your idea; you are mine! I have strategically positioned you in order that you may abound in much fruit bearing, wherever life leads you - fruit that ceaselessly continues in this same incarnate (in the body) life of union with me! From within this place, anything you desire has already been granted you by my Father.