Just Admit It

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
John 15:5

Jesus said apart from Him we can do NOTHING.

That word in the Greek is oudeís and it means….. NOTHING. Periodt.

Here’s the thing, we’re prideful. (For the record if you don’t think you have a pride problem, that’s a good indication that you do.) And because of our pride, we don’t want to admit that we can do nothing. There is something so deep in our nature that wants to cling to being good or being known as good.

Paul said in Romans,

For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. Romans 7:18

Apart from Christ NOTHING good dwells in us.

Even with that truth we still don’t want to admit it. We don’t want to admit our weaknesses, our struggles, insert whatever issue here. Trust me, I am preaching to myself. (hello pride) We want to justify our sinful nature with excuses, our moods, our feelings, other people, circumstances, all the things. We even say crazy things like “The devil made me do it”

Think about it. We’ve been doing this since the garden. When Adam and Eve made the decision to eat the forbidden fruit, they didn’t admit it. They played the blame game. Adam blamed it on the woman God gave him and then Eve blamed it on the serpent. It is in our nature to point fingers and make excuses instead of admitting we were wrong.

So here’s the good news. God already knows this. The truth is we all fall short, no one is righteous, not one. (Romans 3:10) It’s why Jesus came. Jesus is the only remedy to our fallen state. But we can’t be lifted up if we don’t admit we are fallen. It is already true, we just need to admit it. There is POWER in it.

It’s why Paul said,

Therefore, I will MOST GLADLY boast all the more about my WEAKNESSES, so that CHRIST’S POWER may reside in me. 2 Corin 12:9b, emphasis added

And in the original language, it’s so beautiful. The part about Christ’s power residing in me is also translated abide. The power of Christ abides in me, just like the beginning verse, “whoever abides in me, and I in Him” These are Jesus’ words. Jesus abides in us. His power rest on us, abides in us when we boast, declare, and delight in our weaknesses. What an incredible truth!!

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.” 2 Corin 12:9a

Christ’s POWER is perfected in weakness. Who doesn’t want Christ’s power to be perfected in them? Whew. Paul knew this and lived it. #goals

So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corin 12:10

Don’t let your pride keep you from experiencing the POWER of Christ in your life. It’s so freeing. We don’t need to cling to our dignity, we need to cling to Jesus. When we are weak, then we are strong. Admit your weaknesses, your struggles, we all have them. Admit your desperate need for Jesus, He didn’t come for those who are well, but the sick. (Mark 2:17)

Just admit it.