No Other Rock

So shall ye be My disciples ~ John 15:8

Today’s devotion is one that simply makes you stop in awe by how much can be read into scripture. Baxter points to four versus in the fifteenth chapter of John (5, 15, 20, and 27) that point to the fourfold union we are to have with Christ.

Through those versus, we learn that we are to be branches, friends, servants and witnesses. In doing so, respectively, we are to live in Him, joy in Him, work for Him and know that He is our life purpose (or theme).

As branches, we are to bear fruit. As friends, we are to fellowship. As servants, we may be persecuted, and as witnesses Baxter points out the provision of Paraclete. Unfamiliar with the latter term, I sought the definition and found that;

Paraclete comes from the Greek word meaning “one who consoles” or “one who intercedes on our behalf”, which first appears in the Gospel of John (16:7). Christian theology afterwards identified Paraclete with the Holy Spirit. [source: wikipedia definition for Paraclete]

That makes sense.

Baxter also points out that these four characteristics (two of them spiritual and two of them practical) also represent renewal, privilege, endeavor and responsibility.

Taking all this into consideration, we are to accept these assigned roles with Christ as sources of gladness, and perhaps with challenge.

Today, my prayer for you and I is that we will consider these roles and ask ourselves if we are 1.) vitally united with Christ, 2.) living closely in daily fellowship with Him, 3.) faithfully serving Him while faced with the ways of this world, and 4.) giving witness for Him on a daily basis as opportunity allows.