Divine - The Vine

"And truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son, Jesus Christ."              I John 1:3

"What a fellowship...what a joy Divine." (from the song, Leaning on the Everlasting Arms)

Sometimes it takes a little effort just to focus on certain phrases and words of God's Truth.  Take for instance the word "Divine."

Since we've moved to Ecuador and are getting to know our lovely, Spanish friends, we "hear" common mistakes made when speaking English.  Of course, it's nowhere near the mistakes we make when we try to speak Spanish!

When some speak our definite article "the," many of them say "di."  (the "i" is the short sound like in the word "sit"). So try to imagine hearing a sentence "Di man went to the store."

There is a good reason why it is spoken that way which I won't go into.  We are not making fun at all - we love our Spanish friends!

But one morning when I looked at this word "Divine," a light came on - "Di Vine." (like the way our Spanish friends say "the")

So...Divine is The Vine! 

In reflecting on Divine this way, I continued to meditate on the fact our God - His Son is the Vine. He is the one and only SOURCE of life and fruit in our being and walks here on planet earth.  We are in Him, the Vine as His branches.

And as we discover the way the Lord desires us to draw upon Him, our joy is made full - we discover JOY DIVINE, like in the song mentioned above.

Truly, leaning on the Lord is daily - moment by moment.  God works in us the consciousness of Christ being Life.  

One day a baby becomes conscious of his mother, father, surroundings, etc.  And when this baby does, the personality and life of this precious one takes on form of truly being ALIVE!

There is similarity with us - the more our consciousness is filled with the REALITY of our LORD JESUS as LIFE and ALL - we do GROW in spirit.

Hebrews brings out so strongly that the blood of Jesus purges the conscience of the worshipper from "being conscience of sin" into "being conscience of Christ Himself."

I've learned from Him that this is NOT denial of sin - meaning, either having committed sin or enslavement to its power.  No, it simply now means to me of being able to rest in the presence of God as the ONE who is going to supply His Son's Spirit to my spirit to bring forth true fruit of righteousness. 

Another way of saying it, is to enjoy His presence without guilt, yet having the heart's desire to be filled with His Spirit continually, in order to walk godly.

Our Lord does teach us - we do learn from Him.  And when we do learn from Him, we say with Isaiah when he penned these words:  "GREAT is the peace of God's children who are taught by Him."

Sue Gaither

1. What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
   Leaning on the everlasting arms;
   What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
   Leaning on the everlasting arms.
• Refrain:
  Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;
  Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.
2. Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
   Leaning on the everlasting arms;
   Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day,
   Leaning on the everlasting arms.
3. What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
   Leaning on the everlasting arms?
   I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
   Leaning on the everlasting arms.