Reading from the Book of John 15:1-8
John 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.2 Every
branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch
that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
Have you ever seen fruit grow apart from the vine, tree, or plant? Of course not! As a follower of Jesus, the same is true for you. Unless you stay in His presence, you will not grow or bear fruit. Just as the vine is the source of nourishment and health for the fruit, Jesus is your source of life.
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 Abide
in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except
it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I
am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him,
the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
God prunes us and cuts away things that no longer bear the kind of fruit He desires us to show. This "cutting away" is often painful and not immediately understood, but it is necessary for us to grow into the fruit-bearing believers of Jesus Christ that He wants us to be.
We may consider changing, or possibly losing, a job, a friend, or an activity, that in God's eyes is not productive in living a sinless life or saving souls, but could be a major contributor in living a sinful life. But by cultivating an ever-growing relationship with Him, we will see and learn why those things in our lives are not what we wanted in life after-all, as being dirty, sinful, and unproductive.
6 If
a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered;
and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
I encourage you to spend time with Him in prayer, reading, and studying His Word. God is progressive, and sometimes He needs to prune us as He leads us to higher places.
1 comment:
Father God, Thank You for calling me as Your servant. As You bring me into new levels of truth and awareness, I thank You for giving me the words to put into writing. All the glory to the Father!
Amen
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