In John 15, Jesus is talking with his disciples and tells them the humbling (yet freeing) truth that apart from him they can do nothing. Often, when I have heard sermons preached on this passage, the word “good” is added to the end of that statement – “apart from me you can do nothing good.” This is certainly a true statement, for any good that I do always flows from what God is doing in me and through me. I am entirely dependent on Him to bear good fruit. What humbled me this week, is the thought that it would be equally true (in a different sense) if I added the word “bad” to the end of the statement – “apart from him I can do nothing bad.” The very breath that I use to speak words that dishonor God, and the very strength that I use to turn away from Him and go my own way are supplied by Him. What an amazingly merciful God, who moment by moment sustains my life knowing full well how often I will abuse His grace. Apart from Him I can do NOTHING – may this truth help me to become a humble worshipper of the God of whom I am dependent on for all things.
