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I am the Vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 

John 15:5

Hoagies bring back special

memories of my growing-up years in Pennsylvania. My siblings and I loved hoagies so much that we could hardly wait to receive our allowance so we could buy one. Recently, I began to think about what it is that makes these hoagies so special. Without the unique Italian roll, the hoagie would be nothing! The roll is the reason this sandwich stands head and shoulders above all other sandwiches in its category.

In John 15:5, Jesus tells us that by ourselves, we can do nothing. We become ineffective and unproductive when we separate ourselves from our Vine.

Jesus is the Hoagie roll and we are the filling. He makes us look and taste good! Without Him, we are just like those ordinary sandwiches that taste like all the others. It would be as if we had made a hoagie without the Italian roll. Now that's just plain unimaginable!

In like manner, it is unimaginable for me to live my life without being connected to Jesus. There would be no Holy Spirit power to strengthen me that I might have great endurance and patience. My life would be as ordinary, plain, and dull as those who walk apart from Christ. There would be nothing attractive about my soul that would draw others to what I have in the Lord.

Wherever I have lived in America, I have never been able to find the likes of the Pennsylvania hoagie because the authentic Italian roll is unique to the Delaware Valley area. Its goodness is indescribable to one who never had one. Likewise,

Jesus is indescribable.

If you never experienced Him, there is no way to understand who He is. This is definitely a case of Jesus being the best thing that ever happened to me!

His goodness is indescribable!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the delicious hoagie, but more importantly, thank you for the spiritual analogy of the Italian hoagie roll you have given me. You are the best thing that ever happened to me and I thank you that throughout the universe, there is no one like you. You stand in a class all by yourself. Amen.

Encouragement Tip: Knowing Christ and putting yourself down is an oxymoron. If the Italian hoagie roll is the thing that makes the hoagie stand out, how much more will the Christ in you make you a shining star?

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