Reading: John 15, 16
My Verse: "I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much fruit. However, apart from me[cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing." (15:5)
So many deep amazing truths here! Lord, You are nearing the end of Your time on earth as a human. Your words begin to have a sense of urgency in them. This whole passage needs to be in BOLD. It shouts out THIS IS IMPORTANT! Your amazing love and compassion strongly flows through here.
You call Yourself the vine. According to Thayers Lexicon "as a vine imparts to its branches sap and productiveness, so Christ infuses into His followers his own divine strength and life." I cannot live my life as a follower of You without You! I need to be connected to You so that Your divine love and wisdom flows into me and enables to live as You would have me to live.
A Sara Groves song helps to express my thoughts here so well. She was in a place in her life that she couldn't 'hear' You. She asks You to speak up because her ability to hear You was greatly diminished. We end up there so often. The cacophony of our world drowns You out. It is so important - vital, that we recognize this and cry out to You. Cry out to You to have mercy on us in our unbelief! In our apathy! In our weakness!
In another of her songs, her cry is for You Lord to "stir my heart" and "renew my first desire". We daren't assume that we are okay. We are way too weak, even Peter, the Rock denied You. Oh Lord, we are so ever "prone to wander".
Yet, Lord, You also give us promises as Paul wrote in Philippians 1:6. "And I am convinced and sure of this very thing. that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ[right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full conpletion in you." This has been my life verse as You know Lord. I thank You for these sweet words.
But, I cannot sit back and expect You to do it all in this relationship. I have a responsible part in this. I need to ever, "Be alert and on your guard; stand firm in your faith (your conviction respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, keeping the trust and holy fervor born of faith and a part of it.) Act like men and be courageous; grow in strength!" (I Cor. 16:13)
So, Yes! Thank You, Lord for this passage, for the sense of urgency. I must ever be alert and do my part to keep my branch well connected to You the vine!
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
My Verse: "I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much fruit. However, apart from me[cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing." (15:5)
So many deep amazing truths here! Lord, You are nearing the end of Your time on earth as a human. Your words begin to have a sense of urgency in them. This whole passage needs to be in BOLD. It shouts out THIS IS IMPORTANT! Your amazing love and compassion strongly flows through here.
You call Yourself the vine. According to Thayers Lexicon "as a vine imparts to its branches sap and productiveness, so Christ infuses into His followers his own divine strength and life." I cannot live my life as a follower of You without You! I need to be connected to You so that Your divine love and wisdom flows into me and enables to live as You would have me to live.
A Sara Groves song helps to express my thoughts here so well. She was in a place in her life that she couldn't 'hear' You. She asks You to speak up because her ability to hear You was greatly diminished. We end up there so often. The cacophony of our world drowns You out. It is so important - vital, that we recognize this and cry out to You. Cry out to You to have mercy on us in our unbelief! In our apathy! In our weakness!
In another of her songs, her cry is for You Lord to "stir my heart" and "renew my first desire". We daren't assume that we are okay. We are way too weak, even Peter, the Rock denied You. Oh Lord, we are so ever "prone to wander".
Yet, Lord, You also give us promises as Paul wrote in Philippians 1:6. "And I am convinced and sure of this very thing. that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ[right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full conpletion in you." This has been my life verse as You know Lord. I thank You for these sweet words.
But, I cannot sit back and expect You to do it all in this relationship. I have a responsible part in this. I need to ever, "Be alert and on your guard; stand firm in your faith (your conviction respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, keeping the trust and holy fervor born of faith and a part of it.) Act like men and be courageous; grow in strength!" (I Cor. 16:13)
So, Yes! Thank You, Lord for this passage, for the sense of urgency. I must ever be alert and do my part to keep my branch well connected to You the vine!
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
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