In John 15 Jesus uses the picture of a vine and branch to describe what it means to be in a relationship with Him. Christianity is about a personal relationship not about doing a checklist of things and not being a bad person. In John 15 Jesus is stressing the importance of this relationship using this picture we see in nature everyday.
For the past 6 days we have seen the benefits and the purpose of having an abiding relationship in Jesus. This relationship is about having a constant connection through praying without ceasing and memorizing, reading and obeying God’s word. The ultimate purpose for us is to bear much fruit with our lives. There is one more benefit that I do not want us to miss. Let’s read John 15:1-11 one last time.
JOHN 15:1-11 ESV - “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 DOES BEAR FRUIT HE PRUNES, THAT IT MAY BEAR MORE FRUIT. [3] ALREADY YOU ARE CLEAN BECAUSE OF THE WORD THAT I HAVE SPOKEN TO YOU. [4] ABIDE IN ME, AND I IN YOU. AS THE BRANCH CANNOT BEAR FRUIT BY ITSELF, UNLESS IT ABIDES IN THE VINE, NEITHER CAN YOU, UNLESS YOU ABIDE IN ME. [5] I AM THE VINE; YOU ARE THE BRANCHES. WHOEVER ABIDES IN ME AND I IN HIM, HE IT IS THAT BEARS MUCH FRUIT, FOR APART FROM ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING. [6] IF ANYONE DOES NOT ABIDE IN ME HE IS THROWN AWAY LIKE A BRANCH AND WITHERS; AND THE BRANCHES ARE GATHERED, THROWN INTO THE FIRE, AND BURNED. [7] IF YOU ABIDE IN ME, AND MY WORDS ABIDE IN YOU, ASK WHATEVER YOU WISH, AND IT WILL BE DONE FOR YOU. [8] BY THIS MY FATHER IS GLORIFIED, THAT YOU BEAR MUCH FRUIT AND SO PROVE TO BE MY DISCIPLES. [9] AS THE FATHER HAS LOVED ME, SO HAVE I 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 BE IN YOU, AND THAT YOUR JOY MAY BE FULL.
Abiding in Jesus and being obedient leads to joy. These things I have spoken to you, that my JOY may be in you, and that your JOY may be full. When we live an abiding life in Jesus we get His joy in us and it will be full. God created us to be in a relationship. At creation God told Adam that it was not good for man to be alone. We are created for relationships and our greatest joy will be found in an abiding relationship with Jesus.
Pray today that God will help you experience that fullness of JOY as we are in relationship with HIm. Joy is happiness despite our circumstances. Joy is knowing that no matter what God loves us and that we will be in a relationship with Him for eternity.
Pray today that God will use your life to help others find their ultimate JOY in Jesus Christ. Pray that people will see your JOY and want what you have and that only comes from a relationship with Jesus Christ.
I hope you have enjoyed these devotionals and I hope they have helped you to desire to have a deeper relationship with our Heavenly Father by abiding in Jesus Christ.
