John 15:1-17

Read John 15:1-17

1 "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 "By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. 9 "¦As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. 11 "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. 14 "You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 "No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16 "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. 17 "These things I command you, that you love one another."

Jesus is the true vine, we are the branches, and God the Father is the vinedresser. God the Father desires fruit in our lives, but only those who are connected to Jesus and abide in Him through faith produce the fruit desired by the Father. The Father even prunes these branches, taking away those things which hinder us in our walk with Christ, that we might produce more fruit for Him. Those branches who do not abide in Jesus whither and die and are cast into the eternal fires of hell.

Let me ask you: "Are you connected to Jesus? Are you abiding in Him through faith, and do His words abide in you?" If not, God the Father will remove your branch and cast it into the fire (cf. Revelation 20:11-15). You might say, "I've lived a good life. I've done many good things." But if you are not trusting in Jesus as your Savior from sin-if you're not abiding in Him-He'll tell you, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!" (Matthew 7:23 NKJV). And don't think that somehow on your own you can change your life and begin producing fruit for God! Apart from Jesus, "you can do nothing." You need to get connected to the true vine-to Jesus Christ your Savior!

How can you get connected to Jesus? (Cf. John 8:31-32; Psalm 1.) Learn of Him; read and hear His Word! Learn how Jesus lived a holy life in your place and then laid down His life for you and paid for your sins by dying on the cross. Learn of His glorious resurrection and hear and believe God's Word to you that in Jesus you have forgiveness, and in Jesus you have life everlasting! Abide in Jesus, and His love and forgiveness will give you life and produce the fruit of a new life for God in your branch (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:14-17). Abide in Jesus, and He in you! The end result will be life eternal in the presence of God in heaven (cf. Revelation 7:9ff.; 21:1ff.).

Dear Lord Jesus, come into our hearts and abide with us. By Your Spirit, move us to continue in Your Word and abide in You that You may produce fruit in our lives and bring glory to God our Father. Amen

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