In the fall of 2020, my husband Nikolas and I applied for a ministry position that seemed to be a calling from the Lord and also came at a time when we were both looking for new job opportunities. We waited eagerly for the responses to our applications and as we waited, I realized that this felt like such a perfect opportunity to put the CMC mission of maturing and multiplying churches into action in my own life. When we were told that we were not even going to be interviewed for the position, I found myself disappointed that we would not have the opportunity to join CMC in their mission of maturing and multiplying. Obviously, one specific job is not the only way to engage in this mission, but I had been relying on this opportunity, hoping to automatically become a “multiplier.” After facing the disappointment of not getting a job offer, I realized that it was time to re-evaluate how I saw my part in CMC’s mission. If I cannot rely on a “ministry position” to help me mature and multiply, where do I start?
In reading Charles Swindoll’s Jesus: The Greatest Life of All, I have been reminded again that anything we wish to do for Christ begins with abiding in him. Throughout his ministry on earth, Jesus spoke again and again on themes of submission such as abiding in him, taking his easy yoke, bearing his light burden, etc. Swindoll brings a fresh perspective to the familiar parable of the vine and the branches as he explains the meaning behind the metaphors. As the parable goes, we are the branches that are abiding in Christ, the vine. If we are truly abiding in him, it will be apparent to everyone, as we will bear the same type of fruit that he does. However, if we are not fully abiding in him, we will not bear any fruit and will be an odd-branch-out on the vine. It is here in the parable where Jesus states, “Any branch that does not bear fruit, he will take away” (John 15:2). At first glance, it may appear this means the unfruitful branch is cast off and taken away from the vine, but Swindoll says that the Greek implies something else. In accordance with the symbolism in the beginning of the parable, this line refers to the vinedresser lifting the fallen branch to train it on a trellis. Instead of being thrown entirely away, the unfruitful branch is brought nearer to the vine and given support so that it may have another chance to bear fruit (Swindoll, 147-148).
It is when we are submitting to and resting in Christ that we become like him and can work in his Kingdom.
If we apply this parable to ourselves and to the CMC mission of maturing and multiplying churches, we can begin to see that submission is the very first step to being a part of it all. I may eagerly set off to mature and multiple, but unless I am attached to Christ, the vine, my branches will not bear the fruit of his Kingdom. It may appear that I am bearing fruit; it may appear that in my eagerness to become a “multiplier” I have done all the right things. But unless I am abiding in Christ, all my maturing and multiplying will only be chasing after the wind. It is when we are submitting to and resting in Christ that we become like him and can work in his Kingdom. It is in our abiding in him that we find our branches bursting with his fruit, not our own.
As we begin this new year with grand hopes of multiplying and maturing Christ’s church, let us remember that this begins in submission. May we abide in the Vine so that he may multiply and mature the church through us.
One Response
Thanks Melissa, for this beautiful picture of submission—-the picture of the branch brought near to the vine and being supported. God’s desire to be near us, working with us/doing all He can…..so we will be fruitful…. is humbling.
Could it be that the fruit that is produced while resting in Christ is “sweeter” than the fruit that is produced in the doing.