15

Reading John 15 tonight His words reminded me I’ve been pruned.

Though I have been a Christian for over 40 years, I am a babe in Christ. Sometimes, more often than I like, I find that I am a carnal Christian. This is something no Christian ever wants to hear or ever admit, yet though I’ve known my Jesus as long as I can remember, I still find myself floundering in sin and wondering how I got there.

We want to be Bereans and mature Christians. But, though I may be a Berean, I still find I’m the fool and quite immature. It’s simple, we get our eyes off Jesus, and before we know it, we are like Samson not knowing that the Spirit of the Lord has departed. I’m not talking salvation issues or things like that, I’m talking fellowship issues.

Our God created us for fellowship. He wants to just hang out. Perhaps that is too simply put, but that’s what we get to do with Jesus. But, just like in everyday life, our sin—our infractions, our mess-ups, our lack of love—divides us. But, as His words stir in my heart and His Spirit in my soul, I am corrected (yah spanked). It is how I know I am one of His children; otherwise, I would wander in darkness till death.

What I love about Jesus is that He loves just being with us. Everybody else goes home, everybody else gets tired of me, but He doesn’t. Even when I deny Him by my actions, He loves me. I can’t get past that.