Day Two – “Remain in me”

John 15:1-8 (NLT)

Jesus, the True Vine

   “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.

3 You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned.

7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.

Jesus is with his disciples walking with them through a vineyard and explaining to them the importance of being connected with Christ. We are the branches in which we need God to prune off the weight of sin in our lives so we can bear bright fruit in order to bring God glory. God’s pruning process consists of allowing difficult circumstances to produce fruit. The fruit that God wants to see me bear in my life is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. My lack of motivation to meet with Jesus daily will cause me to whither and die. In which causes me to feel disconnected to Christ. This passage gives us the stark reality of either choosing to “remain” or not to “remain” in Jesus Christ .