Apart from God, You Can Do Nothing | John 5:30 Devotional

“By myself I can do nothing...” —JOHN 5:30

Most of us have had days when we felt we were good for nothing. Everything just fell apart at the seams and we accomplished nothing. A lot of hard work, a lot of effort, a lot of zeal and a lot of nothing!

Perhaps the only thing that keeps us going sometimes is that we feel God is expecting us to accomplish something and rather than admitting defeat we try all the harder. But here is the good news of the Gospel. It is not the whole Gospel but a vital part. If we are feeling good for nothing, we are in extremely good company… that of the Lord Jesus Christ. As a man on earth, He accomplished nothing on His own. 

One of the greatest moments in our lives as Christians is when we genuinely face up to being “poor in spirit”, and realize we are not capable of being the people we were created to be or of doing what we are supposed to do when left to our own resources. But that is not the end of the story. Try telling the many who were healed by Jesus that He did nothing. Try explaining to the thousands who ate the multiplied loaves and fishes that He did nothing. Try convincing the families of those He raised from the dead that He did nothing. Of course, Jesus did things and He said things.

Jesus shook the nation of Israel like no one ever could. His impact on the world over two thousand years later has been greater than any other human being. His life divides the timeline of history into B.C. and A.D. No one has done as much as He has! Do Christians of whom Jesus said, “Apart from me you can do nothing,” accomplish things? The answer is obvious. They do. History is full of men and women who accomplished great things for God and are continuing to do so. The question is: How did Jesus perform the miracles? How did He speak with such authority? How did He consistently express the glory of God and how are we to do the same?

In John 14:10, Jesus states clearly, “It is the Father living in me, who is doing his work.” The explanation for all that Jesus did was God at work in Him and through Him. Jesus fulfilled His role understanding the presence of God was indispensable. In our own lives, apart from God, “nothing” is inevitable, but in a true and functioning relationship with God “nothing” is impossible. God’s sole strategy in this world is His people and what we accomplish will be God at work.

Thank You, Heavenly Father, for the precious life of Jesus who continues your work in this world, saving and transforming lives all over the globe.

How would I like to be used by God for His work in this world?