Lesson 5: Dependence of deep restfulness

John 15:5 - …whoever abides in Me…

The life of the branch is not only a life of entire dependence, but of deep restfulness.

 Oh that little branch, if it could think, and if it could feel, and if it could speak—that branch away in Hampton Court vine, or on some of the million vines that we have in our own countries — if we could have a little branch here today to talk to us, and if we could say, “Come, branch of the vine, I want to learn from you how I can be a true branch of the living Vine," what would it answer? The little branch would whisper: “Man, I hear that you are wise, and I know that you can do a great many wonderful things. I know you have much strength and wisdom given to you, but I have one lesson for you. With all your hurry and effort in Christ's work, you never prosper. The first thing you need is to come and rest in your Lord Jesus. That is what I do. Since I grew out of that vine I have spent years and years, and all I have done is just to rest in the vine. When the time of spring came I had no anxious thought or care. The vine began to pour its sap into me, and to give the bud and leaf. And when the time of summer came I had no care, and in the great heat I trusted the vine to bring moisture to keep me fresh. And in the time of harvest, when the owner came to pluck the grapes, I had no care. If there was anything inferior in the grapes, the owner never blamed the branch; the blame was always on the vine. And if you would be a true branch of Christ, the living Vine, just rest on Him. Let Christ bear the responsibility."

 You say; "Won't that make me lazy?"


 I tell you it will not. No one who learns to rest upon the living Christ can become lazy, for the closer your contact with Christ the more of the Spirit of His zeal and love will be carried in upon you. But oh, begin to work during your entire dependence by adding to that deep restfulness. A man sometimes tries and tries to be dependent upon Christ, but he worries himself about this absolute dependence; he tries and he cannot get it. But let him sink down into entire restfulness every day.

 In Your strong hand I lay me down.
 So shall the work be done;
For who can work so wondrously
As the Almighty One?

Worker, take your place every day at the feet of Jesus, in the blessed peace and rest that come from the knowledge - I have no care, my cares are His; I have no fear, He cares for all my fears.

 Come, children of God, and understand that it is the Lord Jesus who wants to work through you.

Thought question: how would your life be different if you were able to rest completely in Jesus for all He asks of you?