5 Minute Read + Scripture readings
Today’s Bible Reading:
Today’s Bible Verse(s):
“I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me.”
John 15:5 (CSB)
Reflections on Today’s Bible Verse(s):
Our verses today are familiar to most Jesus-followers. Many have memorized this verse. This passage is essential to our understanding of how we live our lives.
Simply put, Jesus made it clear that He is the vine and we (Jesus-followers) are the branches. That means that we are completely reliant upon Him. Just as a branch begins to shrivel and die when it is severed from the branch, so our life is tied up in Jesus.
He then said that if we remain in Him, and He in us, we will produce much fruit. This means more than simply trusting in Him for eternal life. It means that we sense our complete dependence upon Him. We are reading His Word and living each moment in conscience dependence upon Him, desiring to comply with His commands and repenting quickly of any failure to do so.
He lives within us if we are saved but we may not necessarily be abiding in Him. But, when these two things are true, we will “produce much fruit.” That means that we will experience results (sometimes not fully visible to us but always fully visible to our Lord) that will bring Him glory.
When Jesus finished John 15:5, He said that we cannot do anything without Him. If we have never fully thought about this, we may initially disagree. We might think that there are plenty of things that we can do without Him.
Yet, who gives us the next breath of air? Who gives us the lungs with which we can breathe? Who gives us the mind to think? Who gives us the body with which we act?
All of these things and everything else are only possible because Jesus graciously gives them to us. At any moment, He could withhold anything He chooses and our life would immediately change. We are much more frail and dependent upon Him than we realize.
So, given how dependent we actually are upon Him, shouldn’t we surrender and live our lives by abiding in Him moment by moment? After all, if we do, we will be producing fruit (results) that will provide us with rewards for eternity.
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Lord Jesus, COVID-19 continues to ravage our nation and world. If nothing else, it has made it clear just how frail we are. It has made us realize how quickly our lives can change. Help me to realize just how dependent I am upon You. In that knowledge, help me to abide in You, finding my energy to live by feasting upon Your Word and relying upon Your Holy Spirit. As I do, may You bless me with a life that will produce fruit that You will reward me for when I arrive in my Heavenly home.
Matt’s Musings 