Читать книгу The Long Road Back - Beray Thigpen - Страница 9

I ran across this topic and it intrigued me so much that I thought it may be interesting enough to share what I learned from this phrase.

Internal environment, as defined in Thorndike/Barnhart, is that it speaks to all the surrounding things, conditions and influences affecting the development of living things. You are a living thing. The second definition is a person’s character is influenced by the social things, conditions, and influenced by the social environment. It scares me when I think about the social media and so many other influences that are so available to all of us. Our social surroundings are so strong and are so available that one has to really be rooted and grounded in the Word of God and be committed to doing God’s work to exemplify Christianity.

We might try to find a way out by saying, “God doesn’t expect me to do what He does.”

Well, fasten your seatbelt because I’m about to lay one on you.

John 14:12 says, “Verily, verily I say unto you, he that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”

So, I tell you, focus on the Christ that is within you. If you have it, use it, if you don’t have it, get it or step to the side.

John 15 says, “He is the vine. We are the branches: He that abideth in me and I in him, the same bringeth forth fruit: For without me ye can do nothing.”

If God is the vine and we are the branch, we are to produce fruit, because the branches are the place where fruit is produced. “It’s not our religious activity that produces fruit, but our relationship with Him.” You remember the story of the fig tree that failed to produce fruit. Remember again, that the branches are the place where fruit is produced. As we receive life from the (vine) Christ, the inevitable result is that fruit is produced. So, take a look back and see if you can identify fruit that you are responsible for producing. If not, hurry and be about our Father’s business. Remember, Jesus performed a dramatic act when He cursed the fig tree that failed to produce fruit.

Mark 11:14 says, “Look back, how do you feel about the amount or fruit, or the lack of fruit that you have produced?” To be successful, you must abide in the vine and I promise you He will make your life complete and rewarding.