John 15:1 “I am the real vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 Every branch which is part of me but fails to bear fruit, he cuts off; and every branch that does bear fruit, he prunes, so that it may bear more fruit. 3 Right now, because of the word which I have spoken to you, you are pruned. 4 Stay united with me, as I will with you — for just as the branch can’t put forth fruit by itself apart from the vine, so you can’t bear fruit apart from me.
5 “I am the vine and you are the branches. Those who stay united with me, and I with them, are the ones who bear much fruit; because apart from me you can’t do a thing. 6 Unless a person remains united with me, he is thrown away like a branch and dries up. Such branches are gathered and thrown into the fire, where they are burned up.
7 “If you remain united with me, and my words with you, then ask whatever you want, and it will happen for you. 8 This is how my Father is glorified — in your bearing much fruit; this is how you will prove to be my talmidim.
9 “Just as my Father has loved me, I too have loved you; so stay in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will stay in my love — just as I have kept my Father’s commands and stay in his love. 11 I have said this to you so that my joy may be in you, and your joy be complete.
12 “This is my command: that you keep on loving each other just as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than a person who lays down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends, if you do what I command you. 15 I no longer call you slaves, because a slave doesn’t know what his master is about; but I have called you friends, because everything I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, I chose you; and I have commissioned you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last; so that whatever you ask from the Father in my name he may give you. 17 This is what I command you: keep loving each other! (Complete Jewish Bible)
***
This verse in John is a small part of a familiar passage, one known as The Vine and the Branches. The passage leans heavily on the understanding that love is essential to the life of a believer. In fact love is a natural outcome or “fruit” for those who are connected to Christ (the Vine). While I do not know much about gardening, I can imagine that it takes time and daily care of a very patient gardener to graft a vine. Once the graft is complete the branch becomes a living part of the original vine. This is how we are to live: as believers grafted into the vine that is Jesus Christ, becoming full, living offshoots, capable of bearing fruit. The most wonderful news is that we did not choose to be grafted into the vine. God chose us! The “fruit” of God’s vine and branches is love. Love for God, love for one another as believers, and love for others whether or not they know Christ. The principle fruit is love with all other fruir (Galatians 5:22-23) developing out of that love. God has chosen us so that love may thrive in abundance wherever we are planted.
***
Hymn for Today: "How Firm a Foundation" by John Rippon.
1. How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
who unto the Savior for refuge have fled?
2. "In every condition, in sickness, in health,
in poverty's vale, or abounding in wealth,
at home and abroad, on the land, on the sea,
as days may demand, shall thy strength ever be."
3. "Fear not, I am with thee; O be not dismayed,
for I am thy God and will still give thee aid.
I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand."
4. "When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
the rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
for I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
and sanctify to thee thy deepest distress."
5. "When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply.
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine."
6. "The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose
I will not, I will not desert to his foes;
that soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I'll never, no never, no never forsake!"
Thought for Today: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only and unique Son, so that everyone who trusts in him may have eternal life, instead of being utterly destroyed. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but rather so that through him, the world might be saved. (John 3:16-17)(Complete Jewish Bible).
Please pray: That many people in Botswana will come to know Yeshua as their Messiah and receive the fullness of the Ruach HaKodesh.
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now
***
No comments:
Post a Comment