God's Sappy Women
By Kathy Isaacs, State Women's Ministries President, Northern Ohio
(Kathy is the mother of two, grandmother of four and married to Bill 31 years this month.)
Normally, I wouldn't want to be around "sappy" women. Webster's Dictionary defines this type of person as silly or foolish. However, when looking at John chapter 15, the first seventeen verses describe a very different concept. In these last words of Jesus to His disciples before His crucifixion, Christ speaks of the importance of remaining connected to the "true vine." The NIV uses the word "remain" eleven times in the first ten verses. It makes sense to me that if I am joined to the vine, then sap is a part of the equation. Sap is defined as "essential to life." I love that! Everything I need is found in Christ and as I remain in Him, He supplies the indispensable necessities for my everyday life.
What are the benefits of remaining in Christ?
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To Bear Fruit (vv. 5, 8): We are reminded in these verses we can do nothing without Christ and we bring glory to God when we represent Him through fruit bearing. Galatians 5:22, 23 says, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control....
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To Ask of God (v. 7): This verse use to boggle my mind. How could Jesus say...ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you? It came to me one day while reading this passage once again that if we are "that close" to Him, we will only ask "God things." Our requests and petitions will not be about us, but about Him.
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The Love of God (v. 9): This has to be the greatest benefit! 1 John 4:10 says, This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. I must tell you, I am still amazed at the grace and love of God.
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Complete Joy (v. 11): How wonderful it is for the joy to be "in you." This tells me it goes beyond the surface to the depths of who Christ wants us to be. Habakkuk's Prayer in 3:18 states, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The writer moves from acknowledgement of the greatness of God, to a request of renewal, to a confidence and trust in Almighty God. Just as for Habakkuk, circumstances may seem unchanging, but the God we serve, through prayer, can change our outlook to one of joy.
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The Ability to Love Others (vv. 12, 17): Jesus is not speaking of just any type of love, but the love He has loved us with. Does anyone want to say "OUCH" with me! Jesus enables us daily to do things that are beyond who we are in the natural. Only by allowing ourselves to be connected to Him and remaining in Him can we love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44). Jesus, in predicting Peter's denial, tells us in John 13:34, 35, A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. Do you think maybe Christ made this a qualifier for discipleship because He knew it could be so difficult at times?
If these are now the new characterizations of "sappy women," then by all means bring them on. Let my life be influenced by godly women who are not afraid to let Christ be in control. In recent days, I have become all too familiar with the IV (intravenous). Fluids and medications were given to me directly through the vein. I was straightforwardly connected to what was essential for the day. In the spiritual realm, I must allow Christ to be my source and provide the spiritual nutrients I need each day.
