Daily Devotional: Tuesday, April 14, 2020
SCRIPTURE READING
Scripture: John 15:2 (KJV)
Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away:
In the first verse of John 15 we looked at yesterday, Jesus said He is the true vine. Jesus is the true vine and branches growing in His vine won’t die. They live. Branches in other vines die. That’s what Jesus means when he says He is the true vine. So of course we want to be branches in the true vine, Jesus.
But once we are branches in the true vine of Jesus, we are cared for, we are gardened, we are husbanded by His Father and His Father is a good gardener who expects us to bear Him fruit. God doesn’t allow branches to be sterile or fruitless. No exceptions. Every Christian who is in Christ is to bear fruit.
Here in verse 2, Jesus warns us that we must bear fruit because if we don’t bear fruit His Father will cut us off of the vine. You realize, that’s what Jesus means when He says “he taketh away,” right? Jesus is saying when a branch is bound into Him, the true vine, and that branch does not bear fruit, His Father will take that branch away.
Where?
He doesn’t say where. Later on in this chapter, Jesus will tell us more about where. It’s not a happy place, so we want to bear fruit, don’t we?
In other words, Jesus is telling us that we want to be branches on his vine because His vine is the true vine. Then He is telling us that, once we are branches on His vine, we want to bear Him fruit because if we don’t His Father will take us away.
Scripture: John 15:2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away:
QUESTIONS
- Who is the true vine?
- Who is the gardener?
- What is the gardener looking for on his branches?
SONG OF THE WEEK
Abide With Me
Abide with me: fast falls the eventide;
the darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.
Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away.
Change and decay in all around I see.
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.
I need Thy presence every passing hour.
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?
Who like Thyself my guide and strength can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me.
I fear no foe with Thee at hand to bless,
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.
Hold thou Thy cross before my closing eyes.
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.
Heaven’s morning breaks and earth’s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Gracious Father, by the gift of faith I am in Christ. By the power of Your Spirit I bear fruit for you. May these blessings increase in me more and more until I come unto Your glorious kingdom. Amen.
OTHER PRAYER NEEDS
- Patience as we wait for the end of the quarantine
- Love for one another in our homes
- Godliness and contentment
SCRIPTURE MEMORY THIS WEEK
John 15:1-2 (KJV)
1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
