He Gets Us: Who Did Jesus Say He Was? | Plan 5: Day 5 • Devotional
http://bible.com/r/9Gl
He’s about real life.
What does it take to live a great life?
Some say it takes money. A lot of it.
Some say it takes looking good. The younger, the fitter, the better.
Some say it’s having a sense of purpose—achieving your goals leads to a great life.
Or being comfortable in your own skin, or satisfied in your vocation. That’s real living.
Truth is, you can’t make a good life for yourself. Ask anyone who has the money… or the looks… or the prestige… or reputation. Ask them if they’re happy, if they’ve found the secret.
Sadly, the news is riddled with people we thought had it all, who gave it up in a heartbeat.
Jesus didn’t want his students to give up. And so on the night before he died, he gave them another picture of who he was. He said, “I am the true vine” and told them I came so you can live the most vibrant and fruitful life possible.
Life to the fullest–life full of fruit… In his short life, Jesus knew exactly what it was like. His personal purpose statement was, “I came to give life with joy and abundance.”
And he did. People loved to be with him and did whatever they could to be near him. They walked for miles just to hear what he had to say. They invited him to their parties. They laughed with him. Wherever Jesus went, he was all there. Sometimes fun. Sometimes compassionate. Always personal.
Jesus called people by name. He listened to their stories. He answered their questions. He visited their sick relatives and helped their sick friends. He fished with fishermen and ate lunch with the depressed. He talked and felt and worked right alongside people.
When he said, “I am the true vine,” he described life in all its fullness. Picture the wine being poured in the glass and whoa, whoa, it’s overflowing! He’s the true vine—not an artificial one. “You are the branches,” he added. Branches draw life off the vine and grow the fruit.
What does it mean to really live? We make it complicated, but it’s really not. It’s being attached to Jesus and drawing our life from his. Little by little, our life begins to look like his amazing life.
How does this happen? Jesus described the process in one word: abide.
See the similarity to the word, “abode”? Abiding is making yourself at home in Jesus. It’s not a once in a while relationship—he’s now where you live.
He is the vinekeeper, coaxing the best out of the branches. He is the root of life, feeding health and abundance into the branches. People look at the fruit from our lives and ask, “who runs this vineyard?”
Growing fruit is what leads to the most satisfying life. It’s what makes life overflow.
Sure you can try to grow fruit on your own, but aren’t you tired of it not working?
Instead, Jesus invites, be at home with me. Be comfortable with him. Be free to be your real self. Get to know his heart and his ways. Rest in him, find your nourishment at his table. Cling to him for all that’s good and beautiful. And grow.
And what will happen? An amazing life. He promised.
Personal note: My purpose is to bear fruit. He is The Vine I am a branch, and through me, The Vine will produce the fruit of The Spirit.
God’s Word
John 15:1-5 ESV
[1] “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. [2] Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. [3] Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. [4] Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. [5] I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
https://bible.com/bible/59/jhn.15.1-5.ESV
Song by Classic Christian Rock band Petra, “Without Him We Can Do Nothing”
Galatians 5:22-26 GNT
[22] But the Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] humility, and self-control. There is no law against such things as these. [24] And those who belong to Christ Jesus have put to death their human nature with all its passions and desires. [25] The Spirit has given us life; he must also control our lives. [26] We must not be proud or irritate one another or be jealous of one another.
https://bible.com/bible/68/gal.5.22-26.GNT
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