02 - Connecting w/ God
Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
CONNECTING with GOD
Day 01 | CONNECTING WITH THE VINE
CONNECTING with GOD
Day 01 | CONNECTING WITH THE VINE
CONNECTING WITH THE VINE
John 15:5-7
“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. If 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. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
In these verses, Jesus was teaching His Followers, whom He called “branches,” the importance of remaining CONNECTED to the Lord, whom He called the “vine.”
As was often his way, Jesus used an agricultural illustration which he knew that they would understand as He wanted to teach a deeper spiritual truth that they needed to know.
They would know – as we would – that the purpose of a branch on a grape vine, is to bear fruit. The fact is… there must be something wrong with a branch that doesn’t bear fruit.
Jesus also mentioned the obvious: A branch that is not connected to the vine will wither, die, and be picked up and burned with other branches that have also become disconnected.
I’ve often thought about what must have been going through the disciples’ minds when Jesus taught this lesson to them. How did they understand it? Did they get it that Jesus was talking about MORE than just grape vines? Did they understand the relationship between needing to be a healthy branch and being CONNECTED to the Lord and the benefit of that connection when it comes to prayer?
Verse 7 in the Amplified reads: “If you remain in Me and My words remain in you [that is, if we are vitally united and My message lives in your heart], ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you.”
So, the simple takeaways for we Followers of our Lord (then and now) are:
1. We should be producing fruit for God.
2. f we’re not, there must be some disconnect.
3. If we remain in Him and His WORDS in us, our prayer channel is OPEN to the Lord and we can expect answers!
Prayer: Lord, I want to be a fruitful branch. I want to have an open line of prayer to you. Help me to remain IN you, bear fruit, give you the thanks and pray expectantly, but always for your honor. Amen.
John 15:5-7
“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. If 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. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
In these verses, Jesus was teaching His Followers, whom He called “branches,” the importance of remaining CONNECTED to the Lord, whom He called the “vine.”
As was often his way, Jesus used an agricultural illustration which he knew that they would understand as He wanted to teach a deeper spiritual truth that they needed to know.
They would know – as we would – that the purpose of a branch on a grape vine, is to bear fruit. The fact is… there must be something wrong with a branch that doesn’t bear fruit.
Jesus also mentioned the obvious: A branch that is not connected to the vine will wither, die, and be picked up and burned with other branches that have also become disconnected.
I’ve often thought about what must have been going through the disciples’ minds when Jesus taught this lesson to them. How did they understand it? Did they get it that Jesus was talking about MORE than just grape vines? Did they understand the relationship between needing to be a healthy branch and being CONNECTED to the Lord and the benefit of that connection when it comes to prayer?
Verse 7 in the Amplified reads: “If you remain in Me and My words remain in you [that is, if we are vitally united and My message lives in your heart], ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you.”
So, the simple takeaways for we Followers of our Lord (then and now) are:
1. We should be producing fruit for God.
2. f we’re not, there must be some disconnect.
3. If we remain in Him and His WORDS in us, our prayer channel is OPEN to the Lord and we can expect answers!
Prayer: Lord, I want to be a fruitful branch. I want to have an open line of prayer to you. Help me to remain IN you, bear fruit, give you the thanks and pray expectantly, but always for your honor. Amen.
Posted in Connecting w/ God