A Heart That Serves

Genesis 2:18, "Then the LORD God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.'"

A woman after God's own heart is a woman who carefully cultivates a servant spirit, whether she is married or not. She desires to follow in the steps of Jesus, who "did not come to be served, but to serve" (Matthew 20:28). Of course, if you are a married woman, that attitude and service starts at home with your family. And more specifically, with your husband.

God has designed the wife to be her husband's helper, and a helper is one who shares her man's responsibilites, responds to his nature with understanding and love, and wholeheartedly cooperates with him in working out the plan of God.

Since marriage is a partnership designed by God, we must go to Him and ask, "How, Lord, can I develop a heart committed to service, a heart intent on emulating You in service to another person? How can I take action in order to prove my desire to serve my husband?"

Here are some proven steps to take as you seek to be a "suitable helper."

1. Make a commitment to help your husband. Let your words reflect your decision to help your husband be successful, to be a team with him, and to make helping him the priority focus of your every day.

2. Focus on your husband. God wants us wives to focus our energy and efforts on our husbands. Each of us is to focus on his tasks, his goals, his responsibilities.

Ask: "What can I do for you today?"

Ask: "What can I do to help you make better use of your time today?"

3. Ask of your actions, Will this help or hinder my husband? That simple question can be a good lens through which to look at how we act in our marriages.

Helping is a simple and noble assignment - and it reaps rich rewards. Living out God's assignment certainly benefits our husbands and anyone else we serve, but we benefit as well as we learn to serve as Christ did.

Philippians 2:7, "but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men."

Matthew 20:26-28, "It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

The Lord Jesus is our ultimate example of One Who served. Because being a servant is a sign of Christian maturity, we must ask ourselves if we are truly ready for it. If so, you must set your heart on it.

In your marriage, do you see yourself as a team player, free of any competitive actions, thoughts, or desires? Is bettering your husband's life your primary concern? Is helping your husband the main focus of your energy?

Pray this prayer.

Lord, my desire is to be the helper to my husband that you designed me to be. Help me, Lord, take the steps necessary to become a better team player. Amen.

A Heart That Obeys

Acts 13: 20-22, "Up to the time of Samuel the prophet, God provided judges to lead them. But then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul, son of Kish, out of the tribe of Benjamin. After Saul had ruled forty years, God removed him from office and put King David in his place, with this commendation: 'I've searched the land and found this David, son of Jesse. He's a man whose heart beats to my heart, a man who will do what I tell him.' "

God took away Saul's crown and stripped him of his kingship because He refused to obey God from the heart. After that, David was chosen by God to reign in Saul's place because He found pleasure in David's heart attitude. As we explore the contrasts between Saul and David, let's note the differences in their character and behavior.

1. In his heart, David was willing to obey, but Saul was satisfied with merely external acts of sacrifice.

2. David served God. Saul served himself and did things his way.

3. David was concerned with following God's will, but Saul cared solely for his own will.

4. David's heart was centered on God, and Saul's was centered on Saul.

5. Even though David didn't always obey God, he had what mattered over the long haul -- a heart after God. On the other hand, Saul's devotion to God was impulsive and sporadic.

6. Although David was well-known for his physical prowess and might as a warrior, he was humbly dependent upon God, trusting in Him and repeatedly acknowledging, "The Lord is the strength of my life" (Psalm 27:1). Saul, in contrast, was proud. He relied on his own skill, his own wisdom and judgment, and his arm of flesh.

How can we follow after David in our devotion to God?

A heart committed to doing God's will is an important ingredient when it comes to living out our love for God. What leads to a life of obedience? ...A heart reponsive to God and His ways!

Here are some proven guidelines that can help us stay on God's path:

Concentrate on doing what is right. When God looked into David's heart, He saw what He wants to see in us -- a heart that will do His will.

Cease doing what is wrong. The split second you think or do anything contrary to God's heart, stop immediately. It is this practice in quick obedience that is the key to training your heart to be responsive to God.

Confess any wrong. Because Christ covered our sins by His blood through His death, you and I are forgiven. We may not feel forgiven, but you and I only need to know that we are.

Clear up things with others. Confession makes things right with God, but if we've hurt another person, we need to clear things up with that person too.

Continue on as soon as possible. Our enemy Satan delights when our failure to obey God keeps us from serving Him. When that's the case, we need to turn to another truth from God's Word and let it lift us up, dust us off, refresh us, and set us back on His path.

Pray this Prayer

Lord Jesus, we know that obedience is a foundational stepping-stone on the path of Your will and this is the path that we want to follow as women after Your own heart. Mold us and shape our hearts so that we are willing to follow hard after You. We want to obey you, and we ask for the grace that will enable us to obey. Thank you, Lord. In Jesus Name, Amen.

A Heart Committed to Prayer - Part 2

Let's continue our look at the blessings of prayer in Chapter 3 of A Woman After God's Own Heart:

Blessing #4: Improved Relationships

You cannot think about yourself and others at the same time. As we settle our personal needs with God in prayer, we can then rise up and focus all our attention outward -- away from self and on to others.

You cannot hate the person you are praying for. God changes our hearts as we pray for our enemies. Matthew 5:44, "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you."

You cannot neglect the person you are praying for. As we invest ourselves in prayer for other people, we find ourselves wonderfully involved in their lives.

Blessing #5: Contentment

Day after day, we must place our needs in God's hands, letting Him meet those needs. Psalm 84:11, "For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly."

Blessing #6: God-Confidence

As the Holy Spirit works in us, God-confidence comes upon us. As we pray and when we make choices that honor God, the Holy Spirit fills us with His power for ministry. The result of His filling is that we are confidently and effectively able to share His love and joy.

Blessing #7: The Ministry of Prayer

Edith Schaeffer stated, "Interceding for other people makes a difference in the history of other people's lives." This means that each of us can actually have a role in the mysterious ways of God.

It is important for each of us to realize that prayer is a ministry, and understanding this fact can end our feelings of uselessness and ineffectiveness.

Yes, But How?

How can we cultivate a heart of prayer and enjoy the blessings that accompany a life of committed and devoted prayer? Here are some quick thoughts.

Start a prayer log to record prayer and answers to prayer.

Set aside some time each day to linger with the Lord in prayer. Remember that something is better than nothing.

Pray always and in all places, enjoying God's presence with you wherever you go.

Pray faithfully for others -- including your enemies.

Take seriously the powerful privilege of the ministry of prayer.

A Heart Committed to Prayer - Part 1

The third chapter of our Bible study lays out for us some of the blessings of prayer. Let's take a look at them now and take note of how God wants to pour out His grace as we expand our reading time to also include prayer.

Blessing #1: A Deeper Relationship with God

Prayer increases faith as we make a prayer list of people and situations that we take to the Lord. This might involve a small notebook where we can write down what we have prayed for, and then note when the prayer is answered.

Prayer provides a place to humble ourselves and unload burdens. 1 Peter 5:6-7, "Therefore humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you."

Prayer teaches us that God is always near. Psalm 46:1, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."

Prayer trains us not to panic. Turning to God for every need during regular daily prayer will ingrain the habit of prayer, leaving us with fewer temptations to worry and fret.

Prayer changes lives, partucularly ours! The peace of God will reign in us as we learn to trust Him with our whole heart.

Blessing #2: Greater Purity

Becoming pure is a process of spiritual growth, and taking seriously the confession of sin during prayer time moves that process along, causing us to purge our life of practices that displease God. By confessing our sins to God, he will forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

Blessing #3: Confidence in Making Decisions

When we take the time to pray about every decision that comes our way, we are developing a routine of seeking God's will in all things. God has a plan for our time and by consulting Him before we say 'yes' or 'no,' we are acknowledging Him as the Lord (boss) of our life. Proverbs 3:6, "In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."

Instead of the dread or fear that results when we make a quick decision without God's involvement, we can experience a solid confidence - confidence in God - and the excitement of anticipating what He will do.

A woman after God's own heart is a woman who will do His will -- not her own.

Acts 13:22, "And when He had removed him [Saul], He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, 'I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.'"

On the Subject of Scheduling Personal Devotions

Psalm 121:1-2, "I will lift up my eyes to the hills -- From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth."

By now you may have found that distractions are abundant. We have attempted to pick a place, time, and plan for our devotions with the Lord, yet we can get side-tracked so easily! Elisabeth Elliot has some thoughts on this subject, and they are included here:

Distractions to Prayer

No one who has tried to pray for more than a few seconds at a time would claim that he is never distracted. It is astonishing to note how insistently and immediately irrelevant matters come to mind, noises occur, things to be attended to are remembered, people interrupt, and even physical discomforts or pains bother us which we had not noticed until we tried to pray. These things are, of course, the work of the master saboteur of souls, who knows how to render our spiritual machinery useless, by the loosening of the tiniest screw or the loss of the smallest nut.

Distractions can be useful. They provide constant reminders of our human weakness. We recognize in them how earthbound we are, and then how completely we must depend on the help of the Holy Spirit to pray in and through us. We are shown, by a thousand trivialities, how trivial are our concerns. The very effort to focus, even for a minute, on higher things, is foiled, and we see that prayer--the prerequisite for doing anything for God--cannot be done without Him. We are not, however, left to fend for ourselves.

"The Spirit too comes to help us in our weakness. For when we cannot choose words in order to pray properly, the Spirit himself expresses our plea in a way that could never be put into words, and God who knows everything in our hearts knows perfectly well what he means, and that the pleas of the saints expressed by the Spirit are according to the mind of God" (Romans 8:26-27).

Shall We Stop Trying?

No! It may be that the plan you have for devotions needs to be tweaked a bit. Perhaps you must choose a different time, or maybe you should find another location where distractions are less. It's perfectly okay if you tailor-make it to fit your life-style. Let's not allow discouragement to set in. Take heart! God loves you and is very pleased when you make the effort to be with Him.

A Heart Abiding in God's Word -- Part 3

How does a woman draw near to God's heart? What is our part in the relationship that God desires with you and me?

1. Schedule a personal quiet time for drawing near to God.

Only through routine, regular exposure to God's Word can you and I draw out the nutrition needed to grow hearts of faith. Developing the habit of drawing near to God helps make our devotional life what we need it to be, and what God wants it to be.

Pick a time. When do you think you could be most consistent in having a quiet time each day? Examine your schedule and pick a time. Set the appointment and then write it on your daily to-do list.

Pick a place. Where do you think you could enjoy the peace and quiet you need for your quiet time? (You might have to try out a few places.)

Pick a plan. Do you prefer your Bible only? How about a concordance, or a notebook; sticky notes, or highlighters. "Personal" means that it's yours alone, and you know the things that will enable you to keep on track and pay attention. You also know the things that will provide distraction!

2. Develop goals for your growth.

Motivation is key when it comes to nurturing a heart of devotion, and dreaming helps motivate us. God will take you as far as you want to go, as fast as you want to go. And so, where to you want to be spiritually in one year? What kind of woman do you want to be?

Now, think about ten years from now. How big is your dream?

Here we stand, staring at the very core of God's heart -- God's own Word.

Romans 11:33, "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!"

Psalm 33:11, "The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations."

1 Peter 2:2, "...as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby."

Psalm 119:105, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."

Lord, just for today, help me to draw near to you. I have a deep desire to be the woman that You want me to be, and I realize that it takes one step at a time. Help me, Lord, as I purpose to spend a daily quiet time with You. Thank you, Lord Jesus. Amen.

On the Subject of Roots

Excerpt from Charles Swindoll's "Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life."

Strong roots stablize growth. If that's true of trees it is certainly crucial for Christians. Roots strengthen and support us against the prevailing winds of persuasion. When the mind-bending gales attack without warning, it's the network of solid roots that holds us firm and keeps us straight. Beautiful branches and lacy leaves, no matter how attractive, fail to fortify us as the velocity increases. It takes roots, stubborn, deep, powerful roots, to keep us standing.

That explains why the Savior said what He did about the plant that withered. It had a root problem, so it couldn't handle the blistering rays of the sun. And why Paul's prayer for those young energetic Ephesian believers included the thought, of "being rooted and ground..."

But before you get excited about whipping up a strong set of roots, better remember this: It takes time. There's no instant route to roots. And it isn't fun 'n' games either. It's hard work. Nor is it a high-profile process. Nobody spends much time digging around a tree trunk, admiring: "What neat roots you have!" No, the stronger and deeper the roots, the less visible they are. The less noticed.

Check it out in the Bible:

Mark 1:16-17, "These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word's sake, immediately they stumble."

Ephesians 3:14, 16, 17, 18, "For this I [Paul] bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ...that He would grant you...to be strenghened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love...may be able to...know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."

Take note

Spending time with the Lord deepens our root system which readys us for the inevitable turbulence of everyday life. Five minutes a day. When we read in our Bibles for just five minutes daily, the Lord nourishes us with His food, His strength, His power. Just five minutes.

A Heart Abiding in God's Word -- Part 2

Our Heavenly Father loves you and me so much that He desires that we spend time with Him. In addition, He has created a deep need in each one of us -- a need for Him. Therefore, it is necessary for us to slip away and be alone with God, especially when the pressures of life mount. When we place Him at the top of our list of priorities, He then chooses to bless us beyond measure.

As we take a look at Isaiah 58:11 in the Message Bible, notice how God describes the blessings that will be poured out upon those who seek after God in the right ways.

"I will always show you where to go. I'll give you a full life in the emptiest of places - firm muscles, strong bones. You'll be like a well-watered garden, a gurgling spring that never runs dry."

As women of God, we draw life from God's Word just as surely as a healthy fruit tree draws nourishment from its hidden root system. Let's consider two more facts about this vital part of a tree that grows downward into the soil.

3. Roots are for storage.

As we soak in needed refreshment from God's Word, He creates in us a reservoir of hope and strength in Him. Then, when times are rough, we won't be depleted. We won't dry up, disintegrate, or die. Instead, we will simply reach down into our hidden reservoir of refreshment and draw out what we need right now from what God has given us.

4. Roots are for support.

Without a well-developed root system, we become top heavy -- lots of leafy, heavy foliage appears above ground but nothing supports it from underneath. Without a network of strong roots, sooner or later we have to be staked up, tied up, propped up, straightened up -- until the next wind comes along and we fall over again! However, with firm healthy roots, no wind can blow us down.

We know that the healthiness and strength of a tree is dependent upon the root system. In the same way, our spiritual healthiness and power is dependent upon what goes on "underground" in the quiet solitude of time spent with the Lord. This is where the beginning of abiding takes place; this is where our relationship with God thrives; this is where the real work is done.

A Heart Abiding in God's Word -- Part 1

Jeremiah 17:7-8, "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit."

Psalm 1:2-3, "But his [the righteous man's] delight is in the law of the Lord,and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper."

If God is going to be first in our hearts and the "Ultimate Priority" of our lives, we must develop a root system anchored deeply in Him. We must seek to live our lives near to God -- indeed, hidden in Him!

Join me as we consider two facts about roots.

1. Roots are unseen.

We are going to compare the root system of a tree to your private life -- the life that you enjoy with God out of the public eye. The underground root system of a tree causes the tree to thrive when it is planted in rich, moisture-laden soil. The tree grows strong, with green healthy leaves, and abundant fruit.

In the same way, if you and I want to thrive as Christians and impact others, we must spend a great porportion of our time hidden in quiet, in reflection, in prayer, in study. Our strength (or lack of it) in public is explained by what goes on in private between us and God.

2. Roots are for taking in.

Do you know what happens when you and I are able to slip away to be with God in study and prayer? We receive. We take in. We are nurtured and fed.

Away from public view, we can go to the Lord with our weakness, with our weariness, and with our darkness, and we can be renewed.

We find great benefit when we purposefully make time to read and study His Word. We must willfully choose Him over the "good" things of life.

We can alter our schedules and, when we do, the blessing are abundant!

A Heart Devoted to God -- Part 2

Mary chose the one thing needed -- Because Mary was a woman after God's own heart, she was preoccupied with one thing at all times -- Him!

And isn't this a wonderful place to be! Well, yes, it is, but the question remains: How? How can you and I become women devoted to God, women who love God deeply and live for Him daily? It has to do with the choices we make. Seemingly small decisions that we make every day can position us so that God can impassion our hearts toward Him.

1. Choose God's ways at every opportunity.

Proverbs 3:6, "In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."

We want to learn to prefer God's way in all things, and so we must ask Him to help us make the right choices. Our quiet prayer during our busy day is, "Lord, what do you want me to do?" When we acknowledge to Him that His ways are better than our ways, He will answer our prayer. When we submit to His instruction, He will direct us in mind, action, and attitude, and will show us the way to go.

2. Commit yourself to God daily.

Our devotion to God is strengthened when we offer Him a fresh commitment each day. One idea is to say the following out loud: "Lord, today I give myself anew to you."

3. Cultivate a hot heart.

Revelation 315, "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth."

To have a "hot heart" is to be fervent, to possess a God-given and intense passion for our Lord.

Passion and excitement for the things of God is the fruit of a life that is totally sold out to Him. This fervancy springs from an interactive relationship with our Heavenly Father.

May each of us experience the wonderful presence of the Lord Jesus Christ that we may speak of His mercy and goodness.

A Heart Devoted to God -- Part 1

We are busy women! We are wives and mothers who are family-minded, career-minded, and ministry-minded. Within this framework, each of us wants to be a woman after God's own heart. We want to choose our priorities carefully, because we want to invest our lives into things that will last. But, how do we accomplish this?

The Bible must have the answer. It is life's handbook, God's love letter to His children. By applying its principles and instructions, we are sure to find peace and order for our time here on earth.

Join me as we investigate the question of priorities. As we consult the Scriptures, we find an account of a woman named Mary of Bethany. She is mentioned three different times in the New Testament, but this is the first:

"Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me."

And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her."

Notice that the Lord did not condemn Martha's industriousness, but neither would He condemn Mary. In fact, He praised Mary for choosing "that good part." This involved enjoying Christ's presence rather than simply doing things for Him. Mary recognized that Jesus provided a spiritual meal that would satisfy more than a physical meal.

We can learn much from the example of Mary and her worship of the Lord.

A New Year, A New Look, A New Topic!

We will be studying out of the book, "A Woman After God's Own Heart" by Elizabeth George, and you are welcome to study along via this blog. You can purchase the book only, or the study guide only; you can choose to buy both, or neither one. It's totally your decision because you know what is right for you!

We will be meeting on Wednesday mornings at my house, beginning September 10th.

Let God fulfill His greatest desire for you. Allow Him to transform you by preparing your heart and mind to embrace His incredible work. You'll find lasting joy and peace in a life of prayer, a life of priorities, a life of relationships.

I'll want to share with you here many points from the study of God's Word. Until then, prepare by asking the Lord to soften your heart and make it pliable so the He can mold you into what He wants you to be.

God Bless.

The Final Wrap-Up

The Gospel of John concludes after Jesus is raised from the dead, and before He ascends to Heaven. John records in the twenty-first chapter that Jesus appears to the disciples three different times. It was during His final appearance that Jesus takes the time to talk with Peter, the disciple who had denied Him.

John 21:15-17:

So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?"
He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You."
He said to him, "Feed My lambs."
He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?"
He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You."
He said to Him, "Tend My sheep."
He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?"
And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You."
Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep."

We find here a very humble Peter. It was not the same Peter as before, when he had declared boldly during their final Passover together that he would gladly lay down his life for Jesus. Later that evening, when the soldiers had come to the garden as Judas betrayed the Lord, Peter drew His sword and with all valiance sliced off the ear of an attending servant!

Many things happened during that night, among them the fulfillment of Christ's prediction that Peter would deny Him three times. When Peter realized what he had done, he wept from shame. However, before Jesus ascended to Heaven and before sending the Holy Spirit, He wanted to have one final chat with Peter. He did not ask Peter about his faith, or his faint-heartedness. He did not inquire about his courage, or his cowardice. Jesus simply asked, "Do you love Me?"

Thank You, Lord, for all Your care for us. Thank You for seeing our condition and loving us so much that You came to die that Your shed blood might save us from Hell. Thank You for not leaving us in our hopeless state. Your mercy is everlasting. Amen.

Learning to Love One Another

John 15:17, "These things I command you, that you love one another."

Throughout the fifteenth chapter of John, Jesus takes great care in preparing His disciples for life without Him. We are now at a place where He is about to change subject matter, but before He does, Jesus echoes a vital theme one more time. He wants so much for the ones who perhaps had followed Him into the vineyard to remember this one thing. It had become a familiar phrase, one that their Rabbi deemed important enough to restate. "Love each other."

The word "love" in this case indicates a direction of the will; in other words, we can choose to love or not to love. If our choice is not to love, then we have disobeyed a direct command of the Lord.

It's interesting that God gives us everything that we need and not necessarily everything that we want. And yet, He is Love and therefore loves genuinely and perfectly. When we follow God's example of loving others, we are learning how to love the way He instructs.

1 John 3:17, "But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?"

1 John 4:7, "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born or God and knows God."

John 13:34-35, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

Jesus had forewarned His disciples that He was going to send a Helper to them. The Helper is the Holy Spirit, Who "convicts the world of sin, and of righteousness" (John 16:8). Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to comfort, counsel, and teach all things to the ones He was leaving behind. He will open our eyes to the needs of those around us and guide us to find ways to give. As we seek to abide in Christ every day, may others see His character by our actions.

Christ Chose Us

John 15:16, "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you."

Here, the Lord Jesus teaches a truth that has existed throughout history, and that is:

God is the Initiator.

He gives because we are in want. He chose us because we find ourselves hopelessly poor and in need of a Savior. He bestows His favor and grace upon us because that is Who He is. It certainly is not because of man's wisdom and goodness that we are chosen of Him. He chose us because He loves us, not because He has needs.

Deuteronomy 7:7, "The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all people; but because the Lord loves you..."

The Lord made the first choice - to love and to die for us, to invite us to live with him forever. We make the next choice - to accept or reject his offer. Without His choice, we would have no choice to respond to His eternal love.

1 Corinthians 1:27, 29, "But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty...that no flesh should glory in His presence."

Philippians 19-11, "And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernments, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God."

As we learn to run to the Lord and abide in Him, we will know and enjoy wonderful fellowship with our Father. We will experience the genuine love of God, and we will desire to share it with everyone we meet. Finally, we will be joyfully and willingly obliged to express this love by the good works we do as the Lord leads us. In this way, the fruit will remain.

Jesus Wants to Call Us Friends

John 15:14-15, "You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you."

Because Jesus is our Lord and Master, He should call us servants; instead He calls us friends. A friend enjoys spending time with another friend. It is a valued relationship where each one can converse freely and laugh openly. You have learned to trust your friend, and so you confide feelings and dreams, as well as personal failure. Friendship is a choice.

Jesus was on His way to the cross, and He knew that His time on earth with His friends was short. In the upper room, Jesus had taught them about serving. Then, in the vineyard, he talked with them about genuine love -- the kind of love that comes from the Father. He explained that they could use this same love to love one another, and that the result would be a life full of joy.

As the time approached when Jesus Christ was to lay down His life according to the will of the Father, He shared openly with the eleven men He called friends. He told them that He had held nothing back, but that He told them everything that He heard from the Father. Everything.

The clock was ticking, and Jesus was interested in relationships. It tells of His nature that this was a priority to Him. He truly desires an intimate relationship with His disciples, one that is voluntary, not one of compulsion.

James 2:23, "And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, 'Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.' And he was called the friend of God."

Proverbs 18:24, "A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."

A Christian's heart cannot contain the love that is sure to grow as a result of abiding in God. Our lives will spill over with unexplainable joy as we learn and practice abiding in His presence. He will share with us everything we need to know, and we will experience a continual filling as a result of our friendship with our Lord.

Thank you, Lord, for wanting a relationship with me. I would not know the way if you did not guide me. I love you. Amen.

Points to Ponder

1. Read James 1:1. Why do you think James called himself a bondservant?


2. Is it possible for a person to love someone, but not to be a friend?


3. Are you a friend of Jesus?

Greater Love Has No One Than This

John 15:12-13, "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends."

The Lord has revealed a treasure of insights to us as we've studied the fifteenth chapter of John. One principle that we are reminded of frequently is that what Jesus calls us to do is impossible. It is not merely difficult. It is not simply a struggle. No, our Lord asks us to do the impossible! Remember that in the early part of John 15, Jesus gives us fair warning, "I am the vine, you are the branches, He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."

With great clarity, Jesus spells out His instructions to all Christians everywhere concerning their love for each other. He says just what He means, all the while knowing that we will fail to obey His commandment should we refuse to abide.

The good news is that the Lord did not set us up for failure. He has provided a Way* and, furthermore, has openly revealed it to us: Living the Christian life is possible in Christ. Let us remember that abiding in Him is our responsibility, while producing fruit is the Lord's responsibility.

Greater Love

Love is perfected as we abide in Him, and perfect love is powerful. It causes one to risk his own life to save another. "Greater love" is costly because it leads one to sacrifice his own soul for another human being. Of all the noble fruit in the character of a man, there is none greater than love.

1 Corinthians 13:13, "And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love."

Nothing is Impossible

We are dependent on the Lord Jesus for every breath we take, any good work we accomplish, and every right attitude we maintain. We can do nothing apart from Him, but "with God nothing will be impossible," Luke 1:37.


*Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life."

Points to Ponder

1. Read John 13:37-38, and John 18:25-26. Why do you think that Peter wasn't able to follow through with his good intentions?


2. Read 1 Peter 1:22 and 4:8. How do you think Peter changed?

What the Bible Says About Joy

What are the Blessings of Joy?

Nehemiah 8:10, "...for the joy of the Lord is your strength."

Proverbs 17:22, "A merry heart does good, like medicine."

Proverbs 15:13, "A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance."

Proverbs 15:30, "The light of the eyes rejoices the heart..."

Proverbs 15:23, "A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, and a word spoken in due season, how good it is!"

Joy tends to be contagious, so the blessings of joy are extended not only to the one who is joyful, but also to those who are around a joyful person. Joy is also attractive; consequently, others will be drawn to you and will soon want to know the reason for your joy.

What Produces Joy?

Psalm 19:8, "The statues of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart."

Luke 10:20, "...rejoice because your names are written in heaven."

Jeremiah 15:16, "Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your Word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart."

3 John 4, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth."

Acts 8:7-8, "For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. And there was great joy in that city."

Luke 24:51-53, "Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen."

We rejoice when we see righteousness triumph over evil, when we discover a truth in Scripture that we haven't noticed before, when a person comes to know Jesus as his Savior. We have great joy when we witness a young Christian mature in the Lord, when God answers prayer, or when we have been in the presence of the Almighty.

How do we Experience Joy?

1 Thessalonians 5:18, "In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

Psalm 118:24, "This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."

When we remember the Lord's great work, past and present, our hearts fill with thankfulness. Our response is to thank Him and praise Him, because as we go over His great deeds in our lives, we realize once again that it's all about Him, not us. We will purpose to rejoice in Him because of Who He is. Focusing our attention on the Lord will cause an outpouring of praise and thanksgiving.

The Lord gives us joy so "that [our] joy may be full."

Psalm 27:6, "And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; therefore, I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord."

The Fruitfulness of Joy

John 15:11, "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full."

When things are going well, we feel elated. When hardships come, we sink into depression. But true joy transcends the rolling waves of circumstance. Joy comes from a consistent relationship with Jesus Christ, one in which we abide in Him as He abides in us. When our lives are intertwined with His, He will help us through adversity and the trials of life. He will keep us from sinking into debilitating lows and help us manage prosperity without moving into deceptive highs. The joy of living with Jesus daily will keep us level-headed, no matter how high or low our circumstances.

Our verse identifies a joy that is "Christ's joy," and a joy that is our joy. Our joy by itself gives no lasting fulfillment, while the joy of Christ abiding in us makes our joy complete. As we abide in the Lord, we experience the fruit of joy in our lives.

Lord, Jesus, may others know that I am a Christian by the joy they see in my life; may others come to you for salvation because of Your joy in me; and may You be glorified through me. In Your Name I pray, Amen.

Points to Ponder

1. How do you know when you are abiding in the joy of Christ?


2. The characteristics of Wisdom are listed in James 3:17. How do these characteristics compare with the fruit of the Spirit list in Galatians 5:22-23?


3. Meditate on the following: Psalm 16:11, "You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

Discovering Christ's Commandments

John 15:9-10, "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love."

This week we are going to be consulting the Scriptures for an explanation of what Jesus calls, "My commandments." We want to know whether His directives are different from the Old Testament Ten Commandments, or the same. Another objective is to be able to recognize and identify His commandments as we read and study the New Testament. Finally, we will endeavor to discover their significance for our lives today.

John 13:34, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another."

1 John 2:7-8, "Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning. Again, a new commandment I write to you which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light in already shining."

1 John 5:2-3, "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome."

Romans 13:9, "For the commandments, 'You shall not commit adultery,' 'You shall not commit murder,' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not bear false witness,' 'You shall not covet,' and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"

Some Specific Commands

The Lord Jesus, Who is our Master and our "Commander," has given certain imperatives to His disciples, which are specific precepts for us to heed. In order to learn what these commands are, we must go to the gospels. Here are a few of Jesus’ commands:

Matthew 4:17, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

John 14:15, "If you love me, keep my commandments."

Matthew 18:10, "Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven."

Luke 12:15, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses."

John 3:7, "Do no marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'"

Matthew 4:19, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men."

When Jesus said, "Follow me," He was expressing the goal of God in all creation -- God walking with man in perfect fellowship. If we attend to His Words, if we carefully observe the Lord's directives, and if we regard them uppermost in our hearts, then we keep His commandments. The Lord still desires the intimacy of abiding for each of His children. It is true that He wants the same fellowship with us as He once had in the garden with Adam and Eve.

He has provided a way, and by His grace we walk with Him. Amen.

Points to Ponder

1. Can you think of another command of Christ found in the Gospels?


2. Read Matthew 5:17-20. What does this mean?


3. Loving God and loving others must be our central focus, because it is the sum total of all of the Lord's teaching and of all the rest of the Scriptures. How does this fact cause you to respond?

Fruit is the Proof of Discipleship

John 15:8, "By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples."

The Lord is teaching us that the Heavenly Father is honored and exalted when we bear much fruit, and He is also saying that the fruit we bear is evidence that we are His disciples. In other words, because we are in Christ, He produces something in us that causes others to worship and reverently acknowledge the Father. All of this is the work of our Lord and it is nothing that we have done on our own. We cannot even take the credit for obeying Him because we are able to obey only because of His grace!

When we disobey God's commands, we are at the same time rejecting His grace. On the other hand, when we do what He commands, He calls us friends. (See John 15:14.) When we obey, we bear fruit and the fruit is proof that we follow Jesus.

Galatians 5:22 tells us that the same fruit Jesus speaks about in the vineyard is the inward character that the Lord develops in us as we abide in Him through life's circumstances. This character includes love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

God is glorified as the fruit is made evident through good works. Works done in obedience to the Lord with a good attitude makes Christ known on earth and gives Him honor and glory.

Matthew 5:14-16, "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."

So, then, we realize that fruit and good works relate closely to each other, and that the Lord is glorified when His children walk in these ways.

Ephesians 2:10, "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."

Lord, my desire is to draw so close to You that Your character will be seen in me. Allow me to walk with you in such a manner that others would give You the glory for all good works they see. Help me to grasp your grace and not let go. Thank you for loving me. Amen.

Have a great week!

Points to Ponder

1. How do fruit and good works compare, and how do they contrast?


2. Can an unbeliever perform good works?


3. What is the proof of discipleship?

Does the Word Abide in You?

John 15:7, "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you."

When the Lord makes a promise, He is good on His word, and His children can wholly depend upon Him to fulfill every pledge that He has made. The verse above is one example of a promise from the Lord. First, Jesus delivers an amazing command that His children must ask what we desire, and then He follows with a guarantee that our prayers will be answered.

However, it's important that we understand the conditions that Jesus has set before us. We have determined thus far that our part is the same as that of the branch that is attached to the vine: we as Christians must receive nourishment, which is to abide in Christ. This action will sustain our life, and will ultimately result in fruit. Now, our current verse introduces the comparable idea that the words of Jesus must abide in us.

The "new" realization that His words must abide in us enlightens us as to what is really involved in our side of the relationship. It is not enough that we say we love Jesus and we want Him to live in us. His very words, the Word of God, the Scriptures, the Bible -- must live within us and be "at home."

John 8:47a, "He who is of God hears God's words..."

John 14:10, "Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own authority; but the Father Who dwells in me does the works."

John 17:8, "For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me."

Matthew 4:4,"But He answered and said, 'It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'"

Ephesians 6:17, "And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

The Lord provided a wonderful gift when He gave us His Word. Our need is great, and yet, the Lord only wants us to come to Him and listen. His counsel is relevant for us in this time of our lives, and He always offers a soothing voice, gentle instruction and calming advice. When we listen, we realize that we only want what He wants because we understand that our Heavenly Father only desires the best for us.

Thank you, Lord, for Your Word. I surrender to you that they might abide in me. Amen.

Points to Ponder

1. How are "abiding in Christ" and "abiding in His Words" different to you?


2. Which Bible verse above means the most to you?


3. How can you know what God desires?

Withered or Wealthy?

John 15:6, "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned."

As Jesus gives final instructions to His disciples, He is conveying the idea that every Christian has the option of either abiding in Christ, or not abiding in Christ. So far in Chapter 15, the Lord has explained with clarity the lasting results of either choice we might make. If our choice is to abide in Christ, to remain as one with Him, and not to become independent or different -- then we will remain useful; we will continue to be of service to Him; and we will stay connected and aware of our Lord. However, if a Christian chooses to maintain a "detached" existence, then that Christian is no good to the Lord Jesus, or himself.

Can we find a good use for the withered grape branch?

Unlike the olive tree, whose wood has found many uses since ancient times, the grape produces wood that is brittle and small. Ezekiel wrote, "Is wood taken from [the grapevine] to make any object? Or can men make a peg from it to hang any vessel on? Instead, it is thrown into the fire for fuel; the fire devours both ends of it, and its middle is burned. Is it useful for any work? Indeed, when it was whole, no object could be made from it. How much less will it be useful for any work when the fire has devoured it, and it is burned?'" (Ezekiel 15:3-4)

It seems that the withered grapevine has settled for offering one final "hand-warming" as it burns away to nothing. However, God has greater plans and desires for His children than we can ever understand!

Colossians 1:9-10, "Because of this, since the day we heard about you, we have continued praying for you, asking God that you will know fully what he wants. We pray that you will also have great wisdom and understanding in spiritual things so that you will live the kind of life that honors and pleases the Lord in every way. You will produce fruit in every good work and grow in the knowledge of God."

The fruit that the vine has produced on the branch is the result of the vinedresser's diligent effort and tender care. He has cleaned and pruned, and he has enabled the branch to receive the nourishment from the vine that results in a wealthy harvest.

The fruit of a Christian's life that our Lord has produced in us is the result of the Heavenly Father's gift of love and mercy. He has forgiven and disciplined, and He has poured out His grace that we might receive power to bring glory to Him.

Have a great week!

Points to Ponder

1. What comes to mind when you think of a withered branch?


2. Why do you think that the Lord wants a relationship with you?


3. Why does He make it your choice whether or not you're going to abide?

Heart to Heart

I have been thinking about the branch that abides in the vine and wondering about the intersection where the branch takes off to grow and bear fruit. I have wondered about the common denominator of the two and where the abiding takes place. How does the branch grow and gain nourishment from the vine? Then I realized:

The heart of the vine and the heart of the branch connect!

The stream -- the life-blood -- flows through the heart of the plant. The life-sustaining food spills from the heart of the vine to the heart of the branch and causes the yield of fruit, more fruit, and much fruit!

John 15:5, "I am the vine, you are the branches, He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."

In the same way, we must maintain a heart-to-heart existence dependent upon our Heavenly Father. We must follow Him with all of our hearts and yearn to know how He thinks and what His nature is. What is God's character? What makes Him pleased? How can I hear His heartbeat?

The desire within must be for Him, or we are not in Christ. We cannot abide if our heart is not in it. There will never be true nourishment if we resist the grace of God and refuse to submit to His leading.

Jesus teaches a principle in the Sermon on the Mount that applies very well here. "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other," Matthew 6:24a.

If we have asked Jesus to come into our lives and to be our Lord, then we have relinquished our "rights" to being our own masters. When we attempt to leave Him out of some of our decisions, or resist Him in some areas of our lives, then we find ourselves competing with God for the lordship of our lives. In other words, we try to serve two masters. The Scripture tells us that we will have conflict if we try to carry on in such a manner.

To abide in Christ is to enjoy peaceful surrender to the One that loves us.

Lord Jesus, we want to be heart to heart with You. The fruit in my life is Your business, Lord, but it is my responsibility to learn about you. I want to get close to You, and I want You to lead the way. Thank you, Jesus. Amen.

Matthew 6:33, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."

Points to Ponder

1. Why is it vital to maintain a heart-to-heart relationship with God?


2. Why can't I make decisions on my own? Why must I submit to the Lord's leading?


3. In reading the Gospel of John, what have you learned about the Lord's character?

Abiding and Bearing Fruit

John 15:4, "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me."

The fruit of the apple tree is an apple; the fruit of a tomato plant is a tomato; the fruit of the coconut palm is a coconut; and the fruit of a peanut plant is a legume we call the peanut. When I reach up to the branch and pluck the fruit from a thriving, healthy apple tree, I am rewarded with a crunchy, juicy, sweet harvest that is wonderfully pleasant to my senses. I enjoy the way it looks, feels, smells, and tastes!

You could say that I am totally blessed by the fruit of the tree. It wouldn't cross my mind to say that I am totally blessed by the fruit of the branch. The branch does not get the credit for growing that fruit, the tree does. The reason for this is that the branch does not produce the fruit; it only holds it.

Let us turn our attention now to the vine and the branches of the vineyard. In the metaphor, Jesus is the true vine and Christians are the branches. Jesus teaches that as we abide in Christ, we can bear fruit, but if we separate ourselves from Him, we cannot bear fruit.

This is because we must remain in Christ in order to bear Christ-like fruit. It is vital that our hearts yearn for Him and that our eyes focus upon Him and His Word. When we have an attitude of faith and obedience, and when we draw our nourishment from the True Source, then the fruit we bear will be of Him.

The fruit of a Christian who abides in Christ is pleasant to the senses. It will bring love, joy, and peace to all who taste of it. The fruit will cause us to praise and give glory to our Lord Jesus because we know that we can do nothing of ourselves. We cannot take the credit for the fruit because He is the "Producer" of it!

Psalm 34:8, "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!"

Ephesians 5:9, "for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth..."

Lord Jesus, we know that we can do nothing that will count for Your Kingdom without You. Help me to abide in You in the same way that You abide in Me. I love You, Lord. Amen.

Points to Ponder

1. Why can't a branch bear fruit by itself?



2. How would a Christian abide in Christ?

To Be Clean and Pure

Part 1

We read and studied John 15:2 last week, but before we continue on to verse 3, let us review once again the verse that warns, "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away..."

A study of the particular phrase, "takes away" reveals the real action the Vinedresser takes when He finds that one of His own branches is not bearing fruit: He lifts up the branch! The same phrase is also cited in the following:

John 5:8, "Jesus said to him, 'Rise, take up your bed and walk.'"

Matthew 16:24, "Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.'"

There are stretches of time in a Christian's walk when fruit seems non-existent. Yet, the Lord tends to us by lovingly lifting us up, cleaning us off, disciplining us, and redirecting our efforts that we might bear fruit again. Clearly, this explains Jesus' meaning in the first part of John 15:2.

Part 2

John 15:3, "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you."

It is interesting that this verse is amplified by another very familiar Scripture found here and on the cover of our binders:

Ephesians 5:25-27, "...Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle of any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish."

You and I do not know how God works. We are not able to understand how the words of Jesus are able to make us clean. There is no way we can fathom how reading and hearing the holy Word of God causes us to be cleansed, purified, and fitted to bear fruit...but it does. It is an on-going process, and is applied to our hearts as needed.

Again, we must search the Scripture in order get God's perspective.

Hebrews 10:22, "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water."

Matthew 5:8, "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God."

The Best Part

Identifying Our Initial Need to be Cleansed

Our Heavenly Father is sinless and pure. In order for you and me to have a relationship with the Father, we must also be sinless and pure. We are not; and that presents the greatest problem of all humankind. Because of God's perfect nature, He cannot look upon us. We need a Savior!

The Lord Jesus Christ is the Perfect One. Our Father sent His Son from heaven to live on the earth and to die in our place. His blood will cover our sin and impurities, and it provides the remedy for our hopelessness. All we have to do is ask.

As we ask, Jesus comes. Then, Christ is in us, and He is our hope.

1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Points to Ponder

1. In the light of our study, what does "takes away" mean in John 15:2?


2. What does Matthew 5:8 mean to you?


3. Who is the "Cleanser" of your unrighteousness?

A Branch That Bears Fruit

John 15:2, "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away, and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit."

We are going to take a close look at our text and examine it with regard to its meaning for you and me in this time of our lives. We learned last week that Jesus is the Vine, and that our Heavenly Father is the Vineyard Gardner. Now, we read about the branch. The identity of the branch is revealed later in our chapter as "you." (See Verse 5.) In fact, the branch is everyone that calls himself or herself a Christian.

Our verse tells us that the Master Vinedresser takes away the branch that does not bear fruit and cuts back the branch that bears fruit so that it will bear more fruit.

Modern horticulturists agree that the purpose of pruning is to obtain maximum yields of high quality grapes and to allow adequate vegetative growth for the following season.

Whether we are referring to an orchard of grapes or a believer's walk with the Lord, it is clear that the motive for cleaning and pruning is for the yield of abundant fruit for the present and for the future. Our Heavenly Father made us for His glory, and He knows what it will take for each of us to lead successful, fruit-bearing lives today and tomorrow. He only wants our best.

The Word of God contains many lessons about bearing fruit. First, let's examine these verses found in various parts of the Bible, and as we do, expect to gain insights regarding what Jesus is teaching in John 15.

Psalm 92:12-15, "The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing. To declare that the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him."

Matthew 7:18-19, "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."

Titus 3:14, "And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful."

Matthew 12:33, "Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit."

We were all born by God's purpose and for His purpose. Our study has caused us to remember that one of His main purposes for us is that we should bear fruit, and bear more fruit. As He washes us with the Word in our reading and studying, may our tender Vinedresser teach us and train us to draw closer to Him.

Points to Ponder

1. Name one characteristic of a grape branch.


2. How does pruning benefit the fruit of the vine for the present?


3. What is the benefit for the future?


4. Why can't a bad tree produce good fruit?

The First Lesson of The Vine

In the Old Testament, grapes symbolized Israel's fruitfulness in doing God's work on the earth. The psalmist refers to the God's people taking ownership of the Promised Land in Psalm 80:8 when he writes, "You have brought a vine out of Egypt; You have cast out the nations, and planted it."

Once again in the Old Testament we find a reference to a vineyard in Isaiah 5:1-7. The lesson of the "Song of the Vineyard" shows that God's chosen nation was to bear fruit, but the fruit was bad. Verse 2, "He expected it to bring forth good grapes, but it brought forth wild grapes."

As we consult our current passage in John 15:1, we read, "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser." Jesus had stopped on His way to the Garden, and turned to His eleven disciples who had been following in His footsteps. He had begun His final teaching with these words. They may have been surprised at the subject-matter, but it would be vital for each of them to listen intently, and to record it in their minds because they would most definitely need to remember what their Master had to say.

Jesus quickly outlined for them the structure of authority in terms that they understood fully. He identified His relationship to the Father, and confirmed His own authenticity. Jesus is the true vine; He is the genuine life-sustainer; He is the real Source of nourishment. However, the Father is the vinedresser, the farmer; the One Who owns the shears!

Jesus, the wise Pastor/Teacher, used something spiritually and culturally familiar as an object lesson in His final sermon. It was imperative that His students understood, and at this point in the lives of His disciples, only time would tell if they had grasped the meaning.

Heavenly Father, help us as we endeavor to lay hold of the teaching of The Vine. Open our spiritual eyes and touch our hearts that we might respond to You. Thank You for taking the time to patiently explain Your ways. In Your Name, Amen.

Points to Ponder

1. Why do you think the Lord Jesus used a vineyard to explain this important doctrine?


2. Why were there only eleven disciples with Him at this time?


3. How were the disciples able to comprehend spiritual concepts?


4. What kind of duties would a vinedresser have?

A Quick Look at Chapter 14 of the Gospel of John

We will be studying John 15 throughout this term, but before we begin, let us glance at the chapter before. As we familiarize ourselves with the setting, we will at the same time gain insight into how Jesus teaches His disciples.

During the Passover meal, Jesus had explained to His disciples plainly that He would be going away.

Three years previously, He had chosen the Twelve, and then He walked with them everyday. Jesus had invested into their lives, each and every one, by instructing them in the ways of the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus had utilized several methods while He taught; one of His favorite ways was using objects or instances from everyday life. He had used something they could touch to illustrate something they could not fathom. Many times, the disciples were confused by a teaching, and they would ask for further clarification. Jesus would patiently accommodate them.

Upon review of the Gospel of John 14, we read that Jesus advises the ones closest to Him that He is leaving them, and that they will not see Him anymore. But then He says, "A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also." And, "I am going away and coming back to you." And, "If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I am going to the Father."

It is no wonder that His disciples are very troubled. They just do not -- they cannot -- understand.

It is interesting to note that when Jesus explained Himself forthrightly, His disciples often had a very difficult time understanding what He meant. Jesus was able to discern His students' capacities, and so He would often alternate His technique and teach in metaphors, parables, or analogies.

"If you cannot comprehend this way, then try to grasp it another way," is what the Lord Jesus seemed to be saying to them.

And so, we still need the interpretation of the idea, "I will be going away from you, but I will never leave you," two seemingly contrary ideas. No wonder the disciples were puzzled. Emotionally, they did not want to hear the truth. The daunting nearness of Jesus's departure meant sadness, separation, and loss -- which is all they could think about.

What does Jesus mean?

Jesus told the disciples that the Father would send the Holy Spirit to them in the Name of Jesus. The Holy Spirit would be with them always and would be their Teacher and Comforter. The Holy Spirit was going to trade places with Jesus in the lives of the disciples, and though they did not understand it at the time, it was very Good News!

May each one of us acknowledge and experience the comfort of the Holy Spirit. May the Lord give us grace to read His Word, and discern His meaning as we study.

Love, Karen