The Life That Flows: From Receiving to Reaching
- First Pres Bakerstown
- May 7
- 3 min read
It is a deep-seated human instinct to want a list. We feel safer when we have a set of boxes to check—"Prayed today," "Was kind to a stranger," "Did my duty." We often treat following Jesus like a spiritual performance review, hoping that if we do enough good works, we’ll secure our place in His favor. But when we reduce our faith to a checklist, we don't just get tired; we get empty.
Jesus never called us to be "employees" working for a wage of salvation. He called us to be branches.
Think about a branch on a vine. It doesn't wake up in the morning and stress about whether it can produce a grape through sheer willpower. It doesn't work for the vine to earn its spot on the trellis. Instead, the branch simply receives. It stays connected, and because the life of the vine flows into it, fruit naturally happens.
A Life with a Given Mission
Our mission in this world isn't a burden Jesus dropped on our shoulders as He ascended to heaven; it is the natural overflow of the life we receive from Him. But we might ask: What exactly is that mission?
Jesus didn’t leave us guessing. He gave us a clear, collective purpose: to make disciples and to be His witnesses. This means we are called to participate in the life of the church—supporting the work of growing the family of God—and to be "living evidence" of Jesus wherever our feet take us.
Whether you are at the grocery store, sitting in a board meeting, or raising children, you are on a mission. You aren't just "getting through the week"; you are carrying His truth, mercy, and peace into every square inch of your world. When we shift from "working for Him" to "abiding in Him," our perspective on this mission changes:
Making Disciples isn't a high-pressure sales pitch; it’s inviting others to experience the same Life-Source you’ve found.
Being a Witness isn't about being perfect; it’s about showing how a real, resurrected Savior works through a real, imperfect person.
Church Support isn't just an obligation; it’s a joyful partnership with other branches to strengthen the whole Vine.
The best part of this mission is that you aren’t a lone branch. You are part of a thick, vibrant vineyard. You are surrounded by a community of believers here at our church who are receiving the same life and walking the same path. When you feel weak, the branches next to you provide shade and support; when you are unsure, the collective wisdom of the body helps guide your way. We are in this together, joined to the same Vine, reaching out to the same world.
Reflection Question: Knowing that Jesus is the Vine and you are the branch, who in your "mission field" today (a coworker, a neighbor, or a family member) needs to see a witness of His peace through you?
A Prayer: Lord Jesus, I confess that I often try to earn Your favor through my own effort. Thank You for the relief of the Gospel—that You are the Vine and I am simply a branch. Today, I choose to stop striving and start receiving. Flow through me, Lord, and empower me to be Your witness. Thank You for my brothers and sisters who walk this mission with me; help us to encourage one another as we make disciples together. Amen.
This devotional is based on a sermon preached by Pastor Paul Becker of the First Presbyterian Church of Bakerstown. Click Here to view the sermon.
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