THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
A visitor walked into the business office of a large company. He asked to see the president of the company.
The custodian said, "He's in Europe on business."
The visitor asked, "What about the vice president?"
The custodian said, "He's in Mexico on business."
The visitor asked, "What about the treasurer?"
The custodian said, "He's home sick."
The visitor asked, "My! Who's running the company?"
The custodian said, "I guess it's just RUNNING!"
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________SCRIPTURE__________________________________
John 15:4
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself,
except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
KJV
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_______THOUGHT____________________________________
In the joke about the business above, all the top management were gone.
But the company was still running.
That's because planning, organizing and control are done by top management.
But the labor is done by the employees.
It's the same way in the church today.
Jesus, the President of Christianity, is not gone, but His physical presence is absent.
His planning, organizing and controlling have all been done for the company already.
And today, He is IN and WITH every employee, helping them to do the WORK!
Now, the ole devil knows that all he needs to do is distract the employees from the presence and power of Christ, and they'll do very little work!
So he initiated a plan.
*He tries to keep them so busy that they don't have time for Bible study and prayer so they won't have any power in their witness.
*He persuades husbands and wives that they need to work 6 or 7 days per week so they will "get somewhere" in the world.
Then they don't have time to attend church and become an integral part of the working Body of Christ.
*He persuades Christians to keep their tv's, cd's, vcr's, and pc's going constantly so they will not have time to be influenced by Christian activities.
*He helps them to have recreation time in excess and sends them to many sport events, thus reducing the time that they could spend witnessing for Christ.
*He overstimulates their minds with worldly attitudes so that they cannot hear that "still small voice" of God.
The sad thing about this little plan is - it's WORKING!
The central truth in the passage of Scripture above is that we have no power to lead others to Christ, or to do appropriate ministry for Christ, unless we "ABIDE" in Him!
As Christians, we draw our "sap" from Christ Who is the VINE.
If we stop drawing on His power, then we dry up and wither!
Let us draw close to our Lord Jesus through daily prayer and Bible study.
Then, let us do the labor for which we are chosen.
Let's keep the company RUNNING!
Love ya!
Bruce