Monday, March 31, 2008

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."

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

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?

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

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?

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

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?

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

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?