Bible League: Living His Word “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”— John 15:11 ESV Jesus taught his disciples, and taught us by extension, so that we would have His joy and our joy would be full. What did he say? He said, first of all, that the Father in heaven is like a vinedresser, He Himself is like a vine, and we are like branches of the vine. Although the Father removes every branch that doesn’t bear fruit, He prunes the branches that do bear fruit. This is not a bad thing. He prunes them so that they will bear even more fruit (John 15:1-2). Second, He said that branches cannot bear fruit apart from the vine. Indeed, apart from the vine, branches can do nothing. Branches should draw spiritual sustenance from the vine so they will not just bear fruit, they will bear much fruit. Branches that don’t abide in the vine are worthless. As a result, they are thrown away and burned (John 15:4-6). Third, He said “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you,” (John 15:7). The prayers of the branches will be answered so that they will bear fruit. It is so important to God that His branches bear fruit, that He answers the prayers that come before Him for that purpose. Finally, Jesus said “As the Father has loved me, so have I 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,” (John 15:9-10). If we obey Jesus’ commands, especially His command to abide in Him, then we will also abide in His love. That love flows from the Father to the Son, and then to us. It’s our spiritual connection to Jesus, our spiritual abiding in Him, that produces all this in our lives. It’s the reason for the good works that we do, it’s the reason our prayers are answered, and it’s the reason why the love of the Father is present in our lives. Jesus is very joyful about all of this. He told us about it so we will be just as joyful as He is. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingNumbers 5, 6 Numbers 5 -- Purity of the Camp; the Adultery Test NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Numbers 6 -- The Vow of the Nazirite and the Priestly Blessing NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Mark 4:1-20 Mark 4 -- Parables of the Sower, Lamp on a Stand, Seed Growing Secretly, Mustard Seed; Jesus Calms the Sea NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Don't worry about the wickedor envy those who do wrong. Insight We should never envy evil people, even though some may be extremely popular or excessively rich. No matter how much they have, it will fade and vanish like grass that withers and dies. Challenge Those who follow God live differently from the wicked and, in the end, will have far greater treasures in heaven. What the unbeliever gets may last a lifetime, if he is lucky. What you get from following God lasts forever. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Acts 8:30 Understandest thou what thou readest?We should be abler teachers of others, and less liable to be carried about by every wind of doctrine, if we sought to have a more intelligent understanding of the Word of God. As the Holy Ghost, the Author of the Scriptures is he who alone can enlighten us rightly to understand them, we should constantly ask his teaching, and his guidance into all truth. When the prophet Daniel would interpret Nebuchadnezzar's dream, what did he do? He set himself to earnest prayer that God would open up the vision. The apostle John, in his vision at Patmos, saw a book sealed with seven seals which none was found worthy to open, or so much as to look upon. The book was afterwards opened by the Lion of the tribe of Judah, who had prevailed to open it; but it is written first--"I wept much." The tears of John, which were his liquid prayers, were, so far as he was concerned, the sacred keys by which the folded book was opened. Therefore, if, for your own and others' profiting, you desire to be "filled with the knowledge of God's will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding," remember that prayer is your best means of study: like Daniel, you shall understand the dream, and the interpretation thereof, when you have sought unto God; and like John you shall see the seven seals of precious truth unloosed, after you have wept much. Stones are not broken, except by an earnest use of the hammer; and the stone-breaker must go down on his knees. Use the hammer of diligence, and let the knee of prayer be exercised, and there is not a stony doctrine in revelation which is useful for you to understand, which will not fly into shivers under the exercise of prayer and faith. You may force your way through anything with the leverage of prayer. Thoughts and reasonings are like the steel wedges which give a hold upon truth; but prayer is the lever, the prise which forces open the iron chest of sacred mystery, that we may get the treasure hidden within. Daily Light on the Daily Path Psalm 97:11 Light is sown like seed for the righteous And gladness for the upright in heart.Psalm 126:5,6 Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting. • He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed, Shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him. 1 Corinthians 15:27 For HE HAS PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET. But when He says, "All things are put in subjection," it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him. 1 Peter 1:3,6,7 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, • In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, • so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |