Daily Devotional: Tuesday, April 21, 2020
SCRIPTURE READING
Scripture: John 15:5a (KJV) I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit:
In verse 1, you remember Jesus said, “I am the true vine and My Father is the vinedresser.” In verse 5, Jesus again tells us He is the vine, but here He tells us we are the branches.
So now there are three persons, three subjects in this parable: the Vine which is Jesus, the gardener Who is Jesus’ Father; and the branches who are Jesus’ disciples. The Vine, the Gardener, and the branches.
But what’s the point of it all?
The point of it all is fruit.
This is a picture of a peach tree in my backyard. We planted it ten years ago. When we planted it, this tree was just a tiny piece of wood a foot long and thinner than a pencil. Now look at how it has grown! Do you see all the leaves and buds on it? It’s going to give us lots of peaches, isn’t it?
In a few weeks it will have several hundred little fuzzy peaches hanging from its branches, but you know what?
We’ve never gotten a single ripe peach from this tree. Each year there are hundreds of little peaches hanging from its branches, but the branches have never given us even one piece of ripe fruit. Never. Hundreds of peaches and then they are gone.
Do you think we’re happy with our preach tree?
No, we’re very disappointed with it. We like peaches.
Jesus promises us that we’ll bear much fruit if we abide in Him. When we bear Him fruit, He is pleased with us. How do you bear fruit for Jesus?
By keeping yourself attached to Him. By abiding in Him.
What kind of fruit does Jesus want? Peaches? Apples? Tomatoes?
No, Jesus wants the fruit of faith and obedience. More than anything else, Jesus wants us to trust and obey Him. That is the fruit we bear Him.
Scripture: John 15:5a (KJV) I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit:
QUESTIONS
- How much fruit has this peach tree given us?
- How much fruit have you given Jesus?
- Do you ask Jesus to help you trust Him? To help you obey Him?
SONG OF THE WEEK
Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing
Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,
Mount of God’s unchanging love.
Here I raise my Ebenezer;
Hither by Thy help I’m come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood.
O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let that grace now, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Father, we lift up to you today our church family, asking that You would be at work in the lives of the brethren, encouraging, teaching, comforting, and providing as each one has need. And Father, if there is any way that I as an individual, or we as a family, can be used by You to minister these blessings to others, please reveal this to us. We are eager to be of service. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
OTHER PRAYER NEEDS
- Strength and comfort for those of us who are presently sick or exposed to the virus
- Protection for the vulnerable
- Wisdom for our Governor as he faces big decisions in the coming days
SCRIPTURE MEMORY THIS WEEK
John 15:3-4 (KJV)
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
