Apart from God I can do nothing.

http://solidjoys.desiringgod.org/en/devotionals/we-can-do-nothing


I have often wondered about the verse, "Apart from Christ I can do nothing".  I wondered because you look at non-Christians who accomplish great things in this world.  Things like charity work, or athletic success or business success.  What this verse is actually saying is that you cannot bear true fruit for God without Him.  You may be able to accomplish great things, and these things may seem like they are examples of fruit for God's Kingdom, but they are not examples of true fruit if we do them on our own effort apart from God, for God is saying in this verse (John 15:5) that apart from Him we cannot bear fruit.

This becomes that much more clear when we examine Romans 7:18, John 15:5 and Galatians 5 together.  You recognize the fact that nothing good dwells in my sinful flesh (Romans 7:18).  Galatians 5 outlines all the characteristics of my flesh.  However it also outlines the Fruit of the Spirit which God will manifest through us when we are surrendered to Him.  As you examine the fruit of the Spirit, you realize very quickly that you cannot bear this fruit by your own effort.  You need to surrender to God, ask for His help and strength and then allow Him to supernaturally work through you and bear these fruits.

When you examine these verses together it becomes increasingly clear that Jesus is bang on (as always) that we cannot bear fruit apart from Him.

When I have read this verse in the past I misunderstood it to mean that I can't do anything meaningful by my own effort.  This is not what the verse is saying.  In actuality there is a lot that I can do and accomplish by my own effort.  The fact that non-Christians can accomplish success in this world proves that.  But no one can bear meaningful fruit apart from the Lord.  No one can bear the fruit of the Spirit.

These truths should not serve as permission to go out and try to accomplish things solely by our own efforts.  All our pursuits are always most meaningful when we are doing them to glorify the Lord.  In everything we do we should be working our hardest at it as a means of worshiping and glorifying Him, and then trusting Him to make from our efforts whatever He wants - to bring about the results from our efforts that He sees fit.

It is important to realize that any success I ever have in anything directly relates to the degree that God chooses to bless my efforts.  Also, even though it is possible to accomplish things by my efforts (as explained above), it is important to seek God in everything I do.  This means asking for His help to do my best, asking Him to bless my efforts, seeking Him for how to go about things, dedicating all my effort to Him, etc.

As I work my hardest at everything I do, I also need to do so in ways that are God honouring and glorify Him.  For instance I should be confident, loving, patient, etc..  It is also important to check your motives.  Everything we do should be for the glory of God.  There is a verse in the Bible which speaks about how our deeds are like filthy menstrual rags if they are done out of selfish ambition.  We were made to worship the Lord, so everything we do must be for His glory alone.  I have had this wrong in so many areas if my life.  I need to stop doing things to bring glory to myself.  And when I do that it helps take away stress because I am striving g to perform for an audience of One, and He does not want me concerned about results, but rather the process of worshipping Him.



-talk next about how this relates to doing my best in teaching, sports, etc....He has blessed me with abilities and I have to work my hardest as if depends on me...I have to actually do it confidently because Christ gives us Spirit of courage.  These circumstances are not what "apart from Me" is speaking about.  The fact that I have messed up in the past by being nervous proves that I have to do it...

Let the Lord work through you naturally.  You still work hard but let Him work through you naturally

Is my obedience and service and worship about the genuine fruit of Christ's presence and power?  I must be always examining myself and checking my motives.

Won't be fruit
Therefore there are some things which you can do by self but fruit is not beared when doing on own effort

If it isn't about Him in us then it won't be worship.  If it is not about pleasing Him alone then it is not worship.