I Am the Vine, You Are the Branches

For Christian disciples, relationship with God is never transactional. Jesus cautioned us to avoid prayer which tries to influence God to do our will (Matthew 6:7) and he also calls us beyond any attitude that serves God out of a desire for reward or to avoid punishment (Luke 17:10).

True disciples have died to themselves so that it is Christ who lives and acts in them. When we live in this indwelling communion with the Lord, then it is Jesus who works through us to accomplish his work in the world. Therefore, we become willing and eager instruments of God’s initiative. There is a fundamental and important difference between “working for God” and “doing God’s work.”

The primary motivation for such an obedient and courageous cooperation with divine life is always to be love (John 14:15 and John 21:15) because “Love transforms one into what one loves.” (Catherine of Siena).