Have you ever tried to describe to someone how it feels to accept Jesus Christ as savior and begin a relationship with God through Him? It is not easy to put feelings into words, but I think the Apostle Paul describes it best. “Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.” (Ephesians 2:17-19)
We often describe Christianity as a relationship with God and not just another religion. I think it even goes beyond relationship; it is a connection. Have you ever truly connected with another person? Of course I was connected with my wife; but I am also connected with my brothers and sisters in Christ. God’s love connects us to Him and to each other. Jesus says, “I am the true grapevine and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:1-5)
Our connection to God through Jesus Christ is the source of spiritual nutrition. It is also the source of the light of God’s love and His power. A light fixture or electric appliance is dead until it is activated by a power source. It isn’t enough that the power is available. We must plug ourselves into Jesus and flip the switch of belief and repentance to complete the circuit and activate God’s love and power within us and through us.
My connection to God has produced the light of His love and the fruit of His Spirit, but sometimes I forget the power He has poured into me. I pray for Him to do the heavy lifting and He always responds, but I think He might wonder why I don’t use the power He has provided? Why don’t I order the enemy to “Back Off”? Why don’t I touch my sick friend and pray for them to be healed in His name? Romans 8:11 reminds us that the Spirit within us is the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead. I pray that we all learn to put that power to good use.