Being Before Doing

As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

John 15:4

Harriet Beecher Stowe once wrote a wonderful book titled How to Live on Christ, in which she said, “How does the branch bear fruit? Not by incessant effort for sunshine and air; not by vain struggles. . . . It simply abides in the vine, in silent and undisturbed union, and blossoms and fruit appear as of spontaneous growth.” We often forget that our walk with the Lord is more important than our work for the Lord. Abiding in Christ comes before abounding in labor.

Before the Bible records the mighty miracles of Moses, it describes the eighty years God spent preparing him for his mission. Before we read of Joseph’s exploits in Egypt, we read chapter after chapter describing his preparation—before the palace came the pit and the prison. Even our Lord spent thirty years in Nazareth before devoting three years to public ministry.

If you feel that your life isn’t making an impact, that your ministry is fruitless, give that over to God. Focus instead on abiding in Him. Spend much time in secret, in the Word and in prayer. We’re often enamored by what a person does, but God is more concerned with who we are. Being always comes before doing in His eyes.