Today's Scripture
John 15:1-12 (NIV)
"I am
the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch
in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he
prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3You are already clean
because of the word I have spoken to you. 4Remain in me, as I also
remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the
vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5"I
am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you,
you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6If you do
not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers;
such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7If you
remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it
will be done for you. 8This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much
fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
9"As the Father
has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10If you
keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my
Father's commands and remain in his love. 11I have told you this so
that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12My
command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
Today's Message
Life in the Vine
Jesus
pictures our relationship to him as branches in life-giving connection
to the vine. If we are vitally connected to Jesus in a personal
relationship, then we bear all kinds of fruit.
Here are some of the fruits of abiding in the vine:
1. We are clean before God.
2. We bear much fruit in our lives.
3. You will be prayerful and see results.
4. We will bring glory to God, bear fruit, and we will demonstrate that we are Jesus followers.
5. We experience his love first-hand.
6. We will obey his commands.
7. We will experience joy in life.
8. We will love others.
That's quite a list! Who wouldn't want to see those things in their lives?
The key, the wellspring, the source of all these fruits is a close, personal connection to Jesus.
Draw near to him today.