"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 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."
The first time I was ever asked to give a "devotional" I was in the Youth Department at my church. My devotional was over John 15. Being in my early teens, I was not real knowledgeable about scripture, nor did I fancy myself as a "teacher"! Now, I am in my mid-50's and I consider myself STILL NOT real knowledgable about scripture, nor do I yet consider myself as qualified to be a teacher!
JESUS tells us in the scripture above the HE is the vine, we are just branches off of that vine. A "true" branch is an extension, or offshoot, of the vine. The FATHER is the vinedresser. HE is the ONE who determines whether HE will get glory out of a branch or not. Only HE has the power to grant life to the branch or prune the branch! GOD getting glory is what we ALL should be about! We occasionally have to be "pruned" to bring forth more fruit, but our ultimate goal should be bringing glory to the FATHER!
In verse 4 we are instructed to "abide in ME". The word "abide" is defined as "to remain; continue; stay". All we are called to do is ABIDE IN HIM. Where I have gotten off track SO many times is trying to do "things" for HIM instead of letting HIM do things through me! HIS greatest work is changing "me", not others! GOD's Word says for us to "ABIDE IN ME", not for us to change the world on HIS behalf! If we "ABIDE IN ME", GOD will draw them to HIMSELF!
We are simply branches, HE is the vine! We are unable to produce any fruit outside of being in the vine. If we try to produce fruit outside of being in the vine the results will frustrate us! The greatest thing we can accomplish with our lives is to "ABIDE IN ME" and I in you! Displaying JESUS CHRIST in our lives is a miracle in its self. LORD, cause me to understand that I am just part of YOU. For YOU to get glory from my life, I must "ABIDE IN ME"!!
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