This means there are many false vines. These are vines that claim to also help us bear fruit. One may still bear fruit through these, but only Jesus makes us bear fruit - in abundance - with fruit that will last.
| How many times Lord, have I searched for you in things. How many times Lord, have I tried to do things without you. Let me cling to you Jesus. I want to bear fruit in you and for you. I want to bear fruit that will last. I want to bear these in abundance. |
The Father is the one who determines which branch stays with Jesus and which one is cut off. The reason for staying with Jesus is to bear fruit. For those that bear fruit, the Father prunes so they may bear more fruit. We are cleansed by the words of Jesus. Jesus tells us to remain in him.
The dictionary says to remain is “to stand, to tarry”. To remain in Jesus is to stand in Jesus, to be firm in Jesus. To stand; not walk, not sit, but stand.
We only bear fruit if we stand in Jesus, wait for him to nourish us, and cling to him. If we remain in Jesus, we bear fruit. We cannot bear fruit by ourselves.
To stand in Jesus is to be firm in him; to hope in him. When we stand firm in Jesus, we grow. We receive nourishment. If we do not stand in Jesus, we will surely die. We cannot bear fruit without Jesus. Isaiah says, “If you will not believe, surely you shall not be established” (Isaiah 7:9).
If we stand firm in Jesus and his word is firmly in us, then we can ask what we wish and it will be given. The word of Jesus should be firmly set in us. It is our nourishment. It will let us bear fruit. It gives us confidence that God is with us. This happens for the glory of God.
| Lord, teach me to stand in you. Teach me to rely on you. May I bear fruit in abundance for the glory of the Father. |
The Love of Jesus
Jesus loves us as the Father loves him. This is a profound statement. The Father loves Jesus infinitely and perfectly. Jesus loves us infinitely and perfectly. Jesus commands us to stand in him. To stand in Jesus is to keep his commandments - to remain firmly committed to him - to do what he commands.
His command was to love one another as he loves us. He was willing to die for others. His call was for us to do the same. This is the only way for us to remain in him.
When we remain in Jesus, we will not only have joy. Our joy will be complete. Joy is a gift from Jesus. This is the will of God - that we may be full of joy. This joy continues in the midst of hatred from the world. Even if people are against us, we will still have joy because we stand in Jesus. Joy is not an emotion. It is knowing we are doing God's will and he is in control.
| Lord, I want joy in my life - the joy only you can give. This joy gives me confidence in whatever situation. In the midst of persecution, in the midst of difficulties, in the midst of trouble, give me this joy and may I have it in abundance! |
Friends of Jesus
Jesus tells us to love one another. To love one another is difficult enough. But to love one another as he loves us is humanly impossible. It is possible only by grace. Jesus showed his love to his disciples by dying for them. He gave his life for his friends. The friends of Jesus are those who do what he says - those who obey him.
The proof that we are friends of Jesus is when he tells us everything he heard from the Father. God does not speak in chaos. He speaks clearly and he tells us everything!
Jesus chooses us and he sends us to bear fruit that will last. When this becomes our goal, we can ask the Father for anything and it shall be given.
| Lord, may I always respond to your grace so I may bear fruit, fruit that will last and fruit in abundance for the glory of the Father. |
Joy
The joy from Jesus comes from the hope that God will intervene. If Jesus was hated by the sinful world, those who follow him will also be hated. This is expected. We are not of the world. The important thing is Jesus loves us. Even when the world hates us, Jesus loves us. This is enough.
People hated Jesus for no reason at all. We are to expect this also. People will hate us for no reason at all.
The important thing is Jesus will send the Counselor - the Holy Spirit of Truth. The Spirit will testify about Jesus and we too will testify about Jesus.
Lord, I am confident you are in control of my life. Give me joy O Lord - which is confidence that you are here with me. Holy Spirit, remind me of the truth. May I cling to Jesus as my Savior in the midst of all my difficulties. Let me not run to others thinking they can save me. But remind me of the truth that only Jesus can save me and my salvation rests in trustinghim alone.
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