CONNECTED TO JESUS
In 2009 police arrested a Florida man for ramming his car into a church building. Claiming that he wanted to be "closer to Jesus," officers discovered Phillip Wagner's car partially inside Faith United Methodist Church. Damage to the church was estimated at about $10,000 and Wagner was placed in the county jail under suicide watch.
Aside from Mr. Wagner's emotional instability, at least we can admire his desire to be closer to Jesus. His unorthodox actions speak to our common human longing for a deep union with our creator. Thankfully, no one needs to ram a car into a church building to be closer to God. In John 14:23, Jesus promises His followers, "My Father will love you so deeply that we will come to you and make you our dwelling place." (TPT). Jesus lives in us. We can't get any closer to Him than we already are!
In John 15:5, Jesus uses a different metaphor to describe His union with us. "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing" (NIV). It's not necessary for a branch to grunt and groan in order to bear fruit. Only one thing matters: staying connected to the vine. The vine draws energy from the sun and nutrients from the soil and... guess what? Fruit happens! But cut it off from the vine, and it dies.
Never has this been truer than during these unstable times, when anxious thoughts whirl through our mind like a vortex. At the risk of sounding overly-simplistic, Jesus says if we stay connected to Him, as we move through each day, we will experience real life. We will discover incredible peace in the midst of anxiety. Wonderful release from worry. Freedom from fear. Simply by remaining connected to Jesus. There’s no other way to achieve it. Self-effort and human solutions can offer temporary relief. But none can deliver what Jesus can long-term.
A tool which helps me stay focused on Jesus is the “Pause” app by John Eldridge. Download it to your phone and give it a try. It requires effort to focus on Jesus in the midst of all the distractions and anxieties of life. But it’s sure worth it. Besides, it’s a whole lot easier (and less expensive) than ramming your car into a church building.
Principle: Remain connected to Jesus and we will experience real life.
Promise: As followers of Jesus, He lives in us.
Ponder:
How does remaining connected to Jesus free me from anxiety?
What steps can I take to stay connected to Jesus each day?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I invite you into my heart. Fill me with your presence.
Pursue: For a deeper dive, study John 15:1-17.
Perceptions: Record any ideas God puts on your heart from today’s devotional through art, poetry, a memory, etc.