John 15:4-5  ‘Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.’

DAILY READING Ephesians 5:21-33; Ezekiel 16; Isaiah 45

In 1944, a study was done to determine the effect of affection and touch on babies. 40 newborn babies were split into two groups. The first group, which was the control group, grew up normally, while the second group was used for  the experiment. The babies in this second group had a special facility where their basic needs,  such as being changed, fed, burped, etc were met. However, caregivers were instructed not to touch or look at the babies more than needed; No communicating with the babies and no extended interactions, they were just to fill the baby’s basic needs and keep the place clean. But then, after four months, the experiment had to be suddenly halted. because the babies began to die.  There was no physical cause of death as the babies were all healthy. However, scientists noticed that shortly before death, these babies would stop verbalizing or trying to engage the caregivers. Then they’d stop moving, crying and changing expressions. And finally, they died. And the few of these babies who eventually survived would grow up psychologically damaged and mentally deformed. Meanwhile the babies in the control group, who received love, care and constant touch from the caregivers, had no deaths at all; they all thrived and grew up normally.

In the 1960’s, a similar experiment was done, but due to children protection laws, this time, newborn monkeys were used. And the result was the same. Baby monkeys in the control group were fine, but the ones deprived of love would die or become mentally incapable for life. These experiments proved the theory correct, that newborns not only need love but that they depend on it for the best chance at life.

In the same way, our spiritual survival is tied to our closeness to God. God is love and we need Him to survive. Indeed without Christ we can do nothing. But through Christ that strengthens us we can do all things. When we are close to God we thrive, but separated from Him, we wither.

Jesus says in John 15:4-5  ‘Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.’

Indeed without Christ we can do nothing. Without God we have no value. It is only in Him that we can live and move and have our being.  And from Scriptures we know that every lover of God ends up a star on earth. Indeed you cannot celebrate God and not be celebrated. Therefore let us look away from man, and let our total dependence be on God. Man can be used by God to help us, but the helper remains The Holy Spirit. Therefore our focus must remain on Him. Never elevate any man above God in your heart. It is dangerous. Any day God withdraws His hand that will be the end. Therefore keep your focus on Jesus and let your creed be ‘what God cannot do for me, let it remain undone’.

Psalm 146:3-5 says  ‘Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish. Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God’

Indeed God is all we need to have all our needs met. He is our source and our sustenance.. Jeremiah 17:5-8 says ‘Thus says the Lord: Cursed is the man who trusts in man And makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the Lord…’

We must never allow our hearts to depart from The Lord. We must constantly cling to Him and love Him with all our heart, soul and mind. God is our helper and keeper. He is our help from ages past. Those who truly love God end up elevated by Him.  Every lover of God ends up a trailblazer and a pacesetter. However, being in love demands being in constant touch.  And we stay in constant touch with God through a daily time of prayer, worship and intimate fellowship.

Whatever situation you may be faced with right now, learn to run to God and depend on His love.  Psalm 91:14 says that when you set your love upon Him, He will deliver you and show you His salvation,

PRAYER: Lord, please help me to cling to You at all times. In every situation please help me to remain totally dependent upon You. I know that You are ever faithful and as I hope in You, I  shall never be ashamed in Jesus Name.

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When God places His hand upon a man in life nothing can come against him, this is because the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.