In January, our youth summer staff got to be the campers during their own weekend retreat!
Spyro was our speaker for the weekend and she taught our staff to expect more from our communication with the Lord than the many silly surface ways we often communicate with each other.
While our attempts to talk to one another might include a whole lot of, “How are you?” and “I’m fine” God speaks with His children with depth and authenticity.
“’For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’
declares the LORD.” Isaiah 55:8
“’As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.'” Isaiah 55:9
“‘As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.'” Isaiah 55:10-11
Spyro urged the summer staff to let go of our shallow expectations and dive deep into God’s word, hearing His authentic heart for us as He communicates with His people!
She taught the staff how to journal during their prayer time as a way to connect more deeply with the Lord!
It takes purposeful thought and practice to step away from our easy and shallow way of communicating and to dare to bring our authentic self to the Lord.
But how can He bring about a true and powerful change within His people, if they are unwilling to be honest and real about their pain and struggles?
During the second chapel session, Spyro taught from John 15.
“‘Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.'” John 15:4
Spyro challenged the campers to consider the difference between what we are able to do in our own strength vs what we are able to do when we trust God to make the changes He wants in our hearts and produce fruit through His Holy Spirit in our lives.
“‘I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.'” John 15:5
“‘As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.'” John 15:9
What is it about God’s love that gives us Holy Spirit power to produce good fruit?
Well, the passage itself shares the secret.
“‘If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.'” John 15: 10
“‘My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.'” John 15:12
When what God wants from us is love, it only makes sense that His love pouring into us, enlightening, healing, and empowering our hearts and lives is the only way to produce good fruit!
This chapter includes an incredibly stern warning about the futility of attempting to bear good fruit without Christ as the source of that good and obedient work.
This warning makes sense when you realize that the work required . . . is love.
“‘This is my command: Love each other.'” John 15:17
Who better to empower us to an impossible task than God, who Himself is love?
“‘You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. . .'” John 15:16a
And so while God’s communication with us can seem overwhelming in both its depth and compassion, through His strength we can respond in kind!
For He Himself gives us the power to show love. He is the source of love in us and that love flows to those around us as we obey His command to rest and remain in His love, so that our work of love is authentic and strong!
