Interesting Green: Reflection - Joanie Yoder

Source (book): "Classic Gem: Timeless Devotions from Our Daily Bread Authors", Chapter 73, "Cut-Flower Christians", Page 84.
By Joanie Yoder, Our Daily Bread Author

PHOTO: Apart from me you can do nothing. - John 15:5
Read: John 15:1-8

Almost every woman likes to receive a bouquet of cut flowers. After admiring and smelling them, she wastes no time getting them into water. Even though they are fresh and beautiful when she gets them, their days are numbered. Because they've been severed from their life-source, they will soon wither and die. One day, she will have to throw them away.

Author Lloyd Ogilvie sees in this a picture of the Christians whose spiritual vitality has faded and shriveled. Such a person has become a "cut-flower Christian." This is similar to the illustration Jesus used in describing the vine and the branches. Just as a branch can't bear fruit by itself, He explained, we can't bear spiritual fruit unless we abide in Him, the true vine (John 15:4).

If a branch could speak, it wouldn't apologize for its need to depend on the vine for bearing fruit. It would say instead: "For this I was made!" Likewise, Jesus knew we were made for dependence on Him, our life-source - no apology needed! In fact, such dependence is the only way to avoid becoming a "cut-flower Christian."

Let embrace His declaration, "Apart from me you can do nothing." He is really saying: "With Me you can do everything I appoint for you, including bearing much fruit!"

Fellowship with Christ is the secret of fruitfulness.
Picture posted by glanzbild.blogspot.fi on Tuesday, 10 March 2015 - Easter cross
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Apart from me you can do nothing. - John 15:5
Read: John 15:1-8

PHOTO: Apart from me you can do nothing. - John 15:5
Picture posted by Depositphotos

Picture is enlarged by AI-powered image upscaler from depositphotos at https://depositphotos.com/upscaler.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=button2&utm_campaign=ntf_upscaler&utm_content=en&iterable_campaign=2704095&iterable_template=3704971

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Almost every woman likes to receive a bouquet of cut flowers. After admiring and smelling them, she wastes no time getting them into water. Even though they are fresh and beautiful when she gets them, their days are numbered. Because they've been severed from their life-source, they will soon wither and die. One day, she will have to throw them away.

PHOTO: Almost every woman likes to receive a bouquet of cut flowers. After admiring and smelling them, she wastes no time getting them into water. Even though they are fresh and beautiful when she gets them, their days are numbered. Because they've been severed from their life-source, they will soon wither and die. One day, she will have to throw them away.
Picture posted by ĐINH VĂN LINH on 06 July 2016 - Ao Dai Vietnam
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjID8yq1z9AFx5RAVCR-oJ1KS3Kf9xvi3Nv87Q5RJ7s-DkRiKic4TIQyl9BHxMgUN_S7wRq3XNTupryU_NaineVQ1dFLNNc3-vd24Fh_7xSSY1BvwJh_cYTb1hC3r33-hchGSoxKvch7FwzGl4fUqLMliJHJ7GGP-0Cp_VD4yq2YAPESEKOB4K8E4ypoBM/s2047/28090068746_84cf1bb6ef_k.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/7423/28090068746_84cf1bb6ef_k.jpg
https://www.flickr.com/photos/dinhvanlinh/28090068746/in/photostream/

Author Lloyd Ogilvie sees in this a picture of the Christians whose spiritual vitality has faded and shriveled. Such a person has become a "cut-flower Christian." This is similar to the illustration Jesus used in describing the vine and the branches. Just as a branch can't bear fruit by itself, He explained, we can't bear spiritual fruit unless we abide in Him, the true vine (John 15:4).

PHOTO: Author Lloyd Ogilvie sees in this a picture of the Christians whose spiritual vitality has faded and shriveled. Such a person has become a "cut-flower Christian." This is similar to the illustration Jesus used in describing the vine and the branches. Just as a branch can't bear fruit by itself, He explained, we can't bear spiritual fruit unless we abide in Him, the true vine (John 15:4).
Picture posted by ĐINH VĂN LINH on 06 July 2016 - Ao Dai Vietnam
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPMeB2IdvJ8wiKmLbI36T13ioFonhS_ByHGH2vFh1gWDWkUP6G3by-OXL55z-aR5mJLGfKMeOPXqOP1VPDN8mKwyatEnfOkqrAC6isV4onaBauliRU62toFpZ_LXAZ4aLOvAYbp4WJAEf3DfP9aZg7_6Un1iDOQMTTq-ulFRINPbPVo6HqDMBnJSq5Qbw/s2048/27509391124_1feb71d168_k.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/7542/27509391124_1feb71d168_k.jpg
https://www.flickr.com/photos/dinhvanlinh/27509391124/in/photostream/

If a branch could speak, it wouldn't apologize for its need to depend on the vine for bearing fruit. It would say instead: "For this I was made!" Likewise, Jesus knew we were made for dependence on Him, our life-source - no apology needed! In fact, such dependence is the only way to avoid becoming a "cut-flower Christian."

PHOTO: If a branch could speak, it wouldn't apologize for its need to depend on the vine for bearing fruit. It would say instead: "For this I was made!" Likewise, Jesus knew we were made for dependence on Him, our life-source - no apology needed! In fact, such dependence is the only way to avoid becoming a "cut-flower Christian."
Picture posted by ĐINH VĂN LINH on 06 July 2016 - Ao Dai Vietnam

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN4bcrGPLxB7EADZkRfVmE4DR6ZfrAdlGRjHEIDYyZ7m_GW1wumTh17AADQULYPcIVTdKBpv1g0EdYrP7WJx27bNaqEBw20vcD3uJS38kx-ZPyPydbz2jrAyQ8XuAiK7d9RIG4HnHMa1KyJvLJ5GFwGHp2Xbj-MnMYvr8OBuv3PXhbzzvT-tju6iVuT8A/s2048/28090053766_2b8f7b77e3_k.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/7319/28090053766_2b8f7b77e3_k.jpg
https://www.flickr.com/photos/dinhvanlinh/28090053766/in/photostream/

Let embrace His declaration, "Apart from me you can do nothing." He is really saying: "With Me you can do everything I appoint for you, including bearing much fruit!"

PHOTO: Let embrace His declaration, "Apart from me you can do nothing." He is really saying: "With Me you can do everything I appoint for you, including bearing much fruit!"
Picture posted by My inner landscape
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVhYMJgrKm5H_3P5djkv07Sw5JuT5JhaqKMpAt1Wt1sbkM3ccFSKdeXRGQicKACsVUNZsJXvDPWv0phOV7GREE3070yGPjbjz1oqgqrvIeh6YBP4bdwyEYYJmdPa1fWG3xKjFRp2g9ZG-Xs3CWMy1ChRra5Ok4OPIC4KsuakpWD0inQwEpwo3FgAj1-9s/s960/20f8f2125072ba7eff4177d513c572b9.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/20/f8/f2/20f8f2125072ba7eff4177d513c572b9.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/645633296594722582/

Fellowship with Christ is the secret of fruitfulness.

PHOTO: Fellowship with Christ is the secret of fruitfulness.
Picture posted by Light Giver
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitY_e4-0BXgBW488bNMSUzt4RQFqvTfrNY5yytS0REwoARrWF6pPiN7GsbD2628nO6E7_iC1__wf-OxBZ0rrVAUnNKXq4Cwq_-e_YI8gCuDvvreYB7F8maXgSVXBXTHibSKTiVid1Sb66Tw94wKd29QcYy0aRSSPrZXDWH9LhosUcsz25YiLn3KvUSds4/s941/0c2cd0336efb8f2a19e14f596b3bda24.jpg
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https://www.pinterest.com/pin/5840674508679236/

PHOTO: Reflect and Pray
Lord, break me, then cleanse me and fill me,
And keep me abiding in Thee
That fellowship may be unbroken
And Thy name be hallowed in me. - Anonymous
Picture posted by Bocautrang ART
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Reflection - Joanie Yoder - Cut-Flower Christians
Source (book): "Classic Gem: Timeless Devotions from Our Daily Bread Authors", Chapter 73, "Cut-Flower Christians", Page 84.
By Joanie Yoder, Our Daily Bread Author

Other Books (Links)

"Faithful to the end", A Preacher's Exposition of 2 Timothy, @ 2014 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - Faithful to the end (Links)
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2017/06/reflection-faithful-to-end-links.html

"Finding rest for the soul" Responding to Jesus' Invitation in Matthew 11:28-29, © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - Finding rest for the soul (Links)
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2018/10/reflection-finding-rest-for-soul-links.html

"God in Pursuit" Lessons from the Book of Jonah, © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART I-III, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2019/08/reflection-god-in-pursuit-links-part-i.html

"God in Pursuit" Lessons from the Book of Jonah, © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART IV, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2019/08/reflection-god-in-pursuit-links-part-iv.html

"Songs of Christmas", The Stories and Significance of 20 Well-Loved Carols, © 2018 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - Songs of Christmas (Links), posted on Friday, 24 April 2020
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/04/reflection-songs-of-christmas-links.html

"Growing Old Gracefully", Following Jesus to the End, © 2019 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - Growing Old Gracefully, Part I - III (Links), posted on Wednesday, 09 December 2020
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/12/reflection-growing-old-gracefully-part.html

Reflection - Growing Old Gracefully, Part IV - V (Links), posted on Thursday, 22 April 2021
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/12/reflection-growing-old-gracefully-part_9.html

"Teach Us to Number Our Days", © 2008 by David Roper

Reflection - Number Our Days, Chapter 1 - 40 (Links), posted on Tuesday, 16 November 2021
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/11/reflection-number-our-days-chapter-1-40.html

Reflection - Number Our Days, Chapter 41 - 64 (Links), posted on Wednesday, 16 March 2022
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2022/03/reflection-number-our-days-chapter-41.html

"He Walks with Me - Devotions for Your Caregiving Journey with God", © 2018 by Our Daily Bread Ministries, Shelly Beach

Reflection - He Walks with Me (Links), posted on Tuesday, 16 August 2022
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2022/08/reflection-he-walks-with-me-links.html

"Classic Gem: Timeless Devotions from Our Daily Bread Authors", Copyright © 2021 by Our Daily Bread Ministries

Reflection - Classic Gem, Chapter 1 - 45 (Links), posted on 03 April 2023
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2023/04/reflection-classic-gem-chapter-1-45.html

Reference

Links

Other Books (Links) - https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/10/reflection-books-links.html

John 15:1-8 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+15%3A1-8&version=NIV

John 15:4 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+15%3A4&version=NIV

John 15:5 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+15%3A5&version=NIV

Matthew 11:28-29 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+11%3A28-29&version=NIV