IDOK Devotion for Thursday, October 28, 2010

Let me say first up that I do not for a nanosecond believe that John 15 is saying we can lose our salvation given to us in CHRIST JESUS. To lose or have it taken away would not be ‘eternal’ would it?

However, a word in John 15 was disturbing today when I consulted my online Greek Lexicon.

It’s not the word in John 15:2 which reads:

“Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; . . .” .

Takes away. The Greek word used here is airo and means to raise up, elevate, lift up, to raise from the ground, to raise upwards, to take upon one’s self and carry what has been raise up, to bear, to move from it’s place.

Okay. I can like that.  You too? The soul in Christ that has been beaten down by the ‘rain’ and the ‘heat of hot winds’ and the like, JESUS comes to lift up, to move from that place of hurt and ‘non fruit bearing’ to a place of abiding in Him so that branch can bear fruit. Yeah! I like that. That’s encouraging. That’s a message one wants to deliver.

However, when we move to verse 6, the same word is not used.

“If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away . . .” .

Thrown away. That Greek word is ballo – not airo.  Ballo means to let go of a thing without caring where it falls; to give over to one’s care uncertain about the result.

Gasp! Now, we know for CERTAIN that God Almighty would NEVER let go of a soul without caring where he or she falls. We KNOW He would NEVER give over a soul to something or someone and not KNOW the end result. So what could this mean?

Could it mean the LORD really is serious about this thing of us abiding in Him and bearing much fruit? Could it mean that when He brings the clippers to prune again and again, and again and again we WILL NOT abide, will not be a producing branch, that He cuts us off (lets us go away) from His fellowship? That He gives us over to the consequences of our sins and rebellion, our refusal to abide in Him? So much so that we just might wake up and wonder what will happen to us? What will my results be? Where am I? How did I get here? Is there any hope for me?

Ballo. A serious word.

Again, I say.  I do not for a nanosecond believe that we can be ‘un-reborn’ in CHRIST JESUS. But obviously Christians can so seriously mess up that they can experience the ‘fire’ of chastisement to the place they wonder whose care they are in. And wonder just what will become of them.  Reminds me a few passages further over in the New Testament. Where some were sick and some even dead because they partook of the LORD’s Supper unworthily (1 Corinthians 11:29-31).  And the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11) for lying to the HOLY SPIRIT.

Am I saying all sickness and deaths are because a Christian messed up BIG TIME? Heavens NO!  If that were so I’D BE DEAD long ago!! But I am saying we MUST take John 15 and every book and chapter before it and every book and chapter after it SERIOUSLY.  We must take abiding in JESUS seriously — He does!

John 15:11 These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.

See that? Made full — it’s not automatic at salvation — we have to cooperate with Him, ABIDE in Him to have FULL JOY.

Father, I did not expect such a lengthy word today; such a sober word today. Thank You HOLY SPIRIT for bringing me back from what I think a number of years ago was the brink of this place of ballo.  It’s a horrible place; a place I never want to go again and a place I want no one else to be.  I pray if there is even one that is approaching such a place with You that today they will allow You to rescue them in JESUS NAME.

And, Father, my petition remains for our loved ones and our IDOK Troops and their safety and well being; Israel and peace and protection for them; America and the Great Awakening that we are asking You to bring, a revival that will change this Nation’s culture, the elections next week; families grieving, Elaine, the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons coming up  — help me do everything within me to make them Holy Seasons this year; and thank You for today’s rain, wash us too, ABBA, in JESUS name. Amen and amen.

Holy hugs, kt