Stepping Stones

May 1, 2018

I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
John 15:5

What if our life had a single purpose and we kept it at the forefront of our minds every moment of the day—to stay connected to Christ. It’s easy to make our connection to Christ complicated by a long to do list: pray more, go to church, read the Bible, serve others, practice patience…. It’s easy to get lost in tasks instead of remembering the Creator. This leads to shame over tasks forgotten or under-performed. We forget that Jesus is “the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2).

When we focus fully on connecting and less on performing, spiritual practices become stepping stones to Him. Spiritual practices without love are empty, but when they are practiced with the single desire of drawing close to God and hearing His voice, our faith is strengthened.

Abundant life comes from God’s work in and through us. As we use spiritual practices to express our love for Christ and experience His love, our hearts and desires become entwined with His. Everything we seek is found in God’s powerful and eternal presence. Which stepping stone will you choose to draw close to Him today?

God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself because it is not there.
C. S. Lewis