In this verse, Jesus says that He is the vine, and we are the branches. He doesn't say that we should try to be the branches. In other words, He wants us to realize that we are already the branches. We do not have to struggle to become the branches.
As His branches, we only have to abide or remain in Christ, our vine. How do we do that? We do it by simply being conscious every day of our position in Christ. Because we have received Him, we are IN Christ, and are accepted by Him. Ephesians 1:6 says, "To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved." We now belong to the Father's dearly loved Son. God loves and accepts us because we are in the Beloved, and He is in us. That is how God sees us today.
What the devil wants to do then is to get us to focus on our condition, instead of our POSITION in Christ. The condition that any one of us might be facing could be financial lack, struggles in our families or with a child..any number of things. When we focus on our condition, we tend to forget our position...the fact that we are sons and daughters, of the Most High..that we are loved and accepted..that He sees us as righteous, and that we are seated with Him in heavenly places at the Father's right hand..(Ephesians 2:6). We are joint heirs with Jesus..(Romans 8:17).
The devil knows that once we focus on our position in Christ, we will begin to stand firm when difficulties arise. Our prayer life will change, and we will bear much fruit. None of these things can happen by our own doing, but through Jesus..through the fact that the Holy Spirit lives in us..through the fact that we are in Christ..He Is the Vine..and we are the branches who dwell IN Him. Just as sap flowing through the branches of a vine will cause them to bring forth fruit, His life flowing through you will bring forth a bountiful harvest as well. You only need to remain conscious of who you are in Christ!
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