John 15:1-25

In this part of the week’s reading Jesus tells us that “apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5) and that the practical examples of this truth range from our being enabled to take each breath which keeps us physically alive, to using the highest functions of our intellect. Yet one of the more profound paradoxes of our Faith is the reality that, while everything good within us is ultimately from God and God alone, the gifts we exercise in His service also in some sense also “belong” to us. A personal example of this reality in my own life is when I pray to the Lord for help in writing an article like this one. I ask him to both “write through me” and to “write with me.”  In that sense I function as a conduit, I hope, of the Holy Spirit. At the same time I feel I am using my own thoughts for His glory and the blessing of whoever is the reader. In this aspect of my writing I sense that I am more a partner with my Lord, albeit a very junior one, than only a vessel.

Many apologists for Christianity have stressed that believers are neither robots, nor puppets of the God in whom they have put their faith. That said; there is an aspect of our relationship with Christ that involves a realization that He is the One empowering and directing every aspect of our existence. We are all, on some level, passive conduits and empty vessels though which His divine will is executed. Knowing and accepting this aspect of my existence as a Christian is what leads me to pray “work through me” as well as “work with me.” It is a prayer that is ultimately far more about Him than it is about me.

Still, at the same time, I cannot help but sense that what God has given me in the way of creative gifts is, paradoxically, also truly mine. There is some kind of a co-operative dynamic that is present and at work in my life and ministry. As I mentioned, when I write I believe that it is somehow my words as well as His. He “writes with me”. In some sense we write together. I have no illusions as to where the ultimate inspiration is coming from, it certainly isn’t coming from me but I still feel at times that I am less a conduit than a “sub-creator”, to borrow a phrase from author J.R.R. Tolkien, of the writing in question….and that the Creator is pleased to let me, “sub-create” in Him.