Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence,
so that we may receive mercy
and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Hebrews 4:16
So Jesus and His disciples took many walks before they stopped at the final place—the Garden of Gethsemane. They fed the hungry, healed the sick and gave hope to the hopeless. As Jesus led them, He used every opportunity to teach them all that He could before He left this earth for Heaven. One day, as they were walking, they passed a vineyard…the vines were full of fruit. Jesus told them that He is the True Vine. And that if they would remain in Him, as branches connected to a vine, they would bear beautiful fruit. Beautiful for others to see. He said:
“If you remain in Me and My words remain in you,
ask whatever you wish and it will be given you.
This is to my Father’s glory,
so that you bear much fruit,
showing yourselves to be My disciples.”
John 15:7-8
God wants so much for us as His children and the best way to have the abundant life that He ordained is to remain in Jesus. The closer we get to Him, the more He pours into us. And then we begin to bear His fruit! Before you know it, you are equipped to lead others to the Kingdom. What kind of world would we live in if all those who are lost saw in us the hope that they have been searching for and we gave them the answer—it is Jesus!
The stronger you become in Jesus, the more the enemy seems to comes at you. He will tell you over and over how insignificant your life really is…and that Jesus isn’t enough to brighten your life…and that joy is temporary. (Remember after all, he is the father of lies. Jesus, however, is the Truth.) And God would haveve never sacrificed His own Son for us if He didn’t think we were really worth it.
He loves us so much…as much as He loves His own Son, Jesus. As Matthew 3:17 says, “This is My Son, Whom I love…with Whom I am well pleased.” Jesus has this same love for us, too. And He never gets tired of us. He only wants to give us all that He has and all the love that He can give. We need only remain in Him. He is the True Vine and we are the branches. Without the vine, and the nourishment that spreads through to the branches, there is no fruit. As Christians, without fruit, we cannot be a witness to others.
Maybe you just need to be still today and let Him love on you. Maybe you don’t feel lovable today and life has really been hard lately and you just need to be reminded that He really is for you and He is always working on your behalf. Please don’t forget that He died for you—even if you were the only one on earth that needed saving, He still would have gone to the Cross.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whosoever believes in Him should not perish
but have everlasting life.
John 3:16
I have loved you with an everlasting love.
Jeremiah 31:3
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I ask you today: do you know Jesus? Do you know God? He is waiting for you, my friend, with open arms. All you have to do is ask Him into your heart and to be your Lord. Will you pray with me?
Dear God, I know that I am a sinner and I need forgiveness. I believe that Jesus is Your Son and He came into the world as a baby, and walked the earth as a man then died on the Cross with my sins on Him. Jesus is the Savior and I need Him. Please come into my heart and be Lord of my life. I want to know You more. Walk with me. In Jesus’ name, amen.
