Archive for January 4th, 2012

Posted on January 4, 2012 - by susanm

January 4, 2012

Today’s special message from Jesus Christ is:

John 15The Vine and the Branches

1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

 

Posted on January 4, 2012 - by genes

John 15: 1-8

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

If you are expecting all 366 messages from Jesus in this year’s daily Bible reading to make you feel warm and fuzzy, maybe it is just as well that you loose that notion early in the year.  Today’s section from John 15 certainly has a cationary tone about it that will make many people feel uncomfortable.  After all, even suggesting that a lax follower of Christ might be picked up, thrown into the fire and burned is not something that most of us want to hear.  Yet, we would do well to remember that while Jesus may say things we don’t want to hear, they are always the things that are the most beneficial to us – things we really need to hear and understand.  Of course, the point of today’s passage is to stay connected to Jesus so you have no fear of ever being separated from Him – Remain in me and I will remain in you.  Just as vines flourish and thrive by drawing their strength from the stalk, so too do the followers of Jesus flourish and thrive by drawing their strength from Christ and His message of salvation.  If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.  Listening to the words of Jesus – meditating on them so they dwell in us – that is the best way to stay connected to Jesus.  How else can we be His disciples if we do not know Him?  Whether His message is happy, hopeful or a stern reminder, if it comes from Jesus, you can be certain it is a message worth storing away in your heart.