Tag: Love God Greatly

Posted in Abide, Abiding in jesus, Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Psalm 119, Quiet Time

Living a Pure Life

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based on the Love God Greatly study, Abiding in Jesus, w3d3

How can a young person maintain a pure life?
By guarding it according to your instructions.
10 With all my heart I seek you.
Do not allow me to stray from your commands.
11 In my heart I store up your words,
so I might not sin against you.

Psalm 119:9-11

Friends, These are three of the most important verses we should know and seek to live by. Read them again and ask God to help you commit them to memory, and to teach them to your children and grandchildren.

The psalmist was concerned about living a pure (godly) life. He not only knew the answer to his question but was already putting it into practice. We see this in his follow-up to the question. “By living according to God’s Word/instructions,” was his initial response, and this was followed by three more statements: “With all my heart I seek You. Do not allow me to stray from Your commands. In my heart, I store up Your words, so I might not sin against You.”

When my girls were growing up, by the time they were two, I started teaching them the children’s catechisms. I didn’t do this because we were Catholic, but because I knew and had learned the importance of knowing and living God’s Word and desires. I wanted them to understand who God is, why we need Him, what He expects from His children, and the blessings of living in His will, as well as the dangers of not.

Just as we train our children to obey us, not just because we want them to do what we say but because we want to protect them, enjoy time with them, and be represented well by them. The same is true of God; He has given us His Word, offered us a relationship with Him through Jesus and the Spirit, who have trained and helped us to represent Him well.

The Psalmist had a goal; the question is, do we? Are we concerned about maintaining a pure life? Are we pursuing a sinless life? Are we hiding God’s Word in our hearts? Are we asking for His help to stay faithful to His commandments?

The More We Know

This isn’t just a question for the young but for every heart that desires to walk closely with God. The answer? By living according to God’s Word. When we seek Him wholeheartedly and treasure His commands and promises, we choose to abide in Him, staying rooted in the wisdom He’s given us. This relationship strengthens us and empowers us, especially in the face of temptations or distraction.

The psalmist’s words, “with all my heart I seek you,” are a call to let our pursuit of God be wholehearted and undivided. THe psalmist further writes that we are to “store up your words, so I might not sin against you.” Memorizing and meditating on God’s Word is more than just a spiritual exercise. It’s a life-changing process that shapes our hearts and minds, which draws us closer to Him.

When His Words abide in us, they help us reflect His character and resist the pull from the world. – LGG, Abiding in Jesus, p101

Posted in Abide, Abiding in jesus, Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

Living by the New Nature

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Based on the LGG Study, Abiding in Jesus

Read and SOAP: Galatians 5:22-23

 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

Galatians 5:22-23

For two weeks now, we have read and talked about our responsibility, as believers, to “bear fruit.” So it should come as no surprise that we have reached the definition or description of the fruit a believer should produce. The thing I love about Paul is that he not only tells us what the fruit of the new nature is, but he reminds his readers what the old nature looks like.

At the moment of conversion, the Christian receives a new nature. It is instantaneous. Sanctification, on the other hand, is the process by which God develops our new nature, enabling us to grow into more holiness through time. This is a continuous process with many victories and defeats as the new nature battles with the “tent” in which it resides—the old man, old nature, flesh.

Gotquestions.org

In contrast to the earlier description of the sinful nature, which wants to do evil, our new nature (controlled by the Spirit of God) wants to do what is good and right. Before Paul lists out the “fruit of the Spirit (or new nature),” he highlights the details of the old nature. They include sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealous, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Paul says that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God!

On the contrary, Paul writes that those who live by the Spirit instead of the old sinful nature will be noticeably different. He explains that the Spirit produces evidence of a godly character. As we grow in our understanding and love of God we will become more loving, experience more joy and exhibit more patience and self-control. We won’t be so quick to get angry or be unkind, instead we will known for our gentleness, goodness, and faithfulness. And, instead of missing out on the Kingdom of God, those who live by the Spirit will inherit the Kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also behave in accordance with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, being jealous of one another.

Galatians 5:22-26
The More We Know

Friends, I should tell you, Galatians is one of my favorite books of the Bible. It played a great part in the transformation and growth of my faith and understanding of God’s grace. In large part, Paul has written this part of the letter because he knew many were struggling with the old nature. He’s trying to help them understand that they no longer are to live as though they are still slaves to sin, for they have been set free and given a new nature. Yet, somehow, they are back to believing that circumcision can save them and have lost sight of the faith they professed and the truth that it is the only way to God. They are now trying to add works to their faith. Paul reminds them that this is futile, as faith alone in Christ alone is the message of the Gospel. May we never lose sight of this truth and may we always stand in awe of His grace and mercy.

For more insight on today’s journey read today’s LGG Blog Post

Posted in Abide, Abiding in jesus, Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

God Word: The Living Water

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Based on the LGG Study, Abiding in Jesus

Read and SOAP: Psalm 1:1-3

Oh, the joys of those who do not
    follow the advice of the wicked,
    or stand around with sinners,
    or join in with mockers.
2 But they delight in the law of the Lord,
    meditating on it day and night.
3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
    bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither,
    and they prosper in all they do.

Psalm 1:1-3

This Psalm is a familiar one, and as such, it is easy to read through it without truly reading it. So I was surprised when I found myself writing down this thought in the margin of my journal: “Connect yourself to the sewer and you will look and smell like the sewer. Connect yourself to the Father, Son, and Spirit, and you will grow strong and healthy on streams of living water.”

Instead of aligning our lives with the world and seeking wisdom and nourishment from the malnourished, we need to root ourselves in God’s Word, the Living Water. Then, no matter the season, we are secure and stable because we are rooted and established in Him.

Abiding in Jesus, p79

Friends, where and with whom we spend our time, or what and with whom we listen to, matters. If you’ve bought into the notion that a verse a day keeps the enemy away or produces a strong, healthy tree, laden with fruit, then you’ve been duped. If we want to be like a tree planted by flowing streams and yielding its fruit at the proper time, if we want our leaves to never fall off and to succeed in all we attempt, then we must spend time with God, meditating on His Word day and night, and obeying His commands. Let’s be picky about who we seek advice from or confide in. Certainly, we are to live in the world and be a light in the darkness – but Paul warns us to let God transform us into a new person, by changing the way we think, so that we do not copy the behavior and customs of the world.

May God help us to drink often from the Living Water, stay rooted in His Word, and reflect Him to the world around us. Let us not succumb to the darkness but light it up with the love and reflection of Jesus.

The More We Know

When our lives are rooted in God’s Word, our joy no longer hinges on our circumstances but rather on obeying His commands. From the world’s view, our lives might look like a mess, yet we can remain calm, knowing that our Heavenly Father is working everything according to His perfect plan. It is in those hurricanes of heartbreak that should have uprooted us that we are able to stand grounded and strong. Our leaves and fruit will never dry up because He is the never-ending, always and forever Living Water.

Abiding in Jesus, p79
Posted in Abide, Abiding in jesus, Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

More than Appearance

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Based on the LGG Study, Abiding in Jesus, w2d3

Read and SOAP: John 15:6

If anyone does not remain in me, he is thrown out like a branch, and dries up; and such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, and are burned up.

John 15:6 NLT

I’m sure you’ve heard it said, “You can’t judge a book by its cover.” There is much truth in this statement, which came to mind as I was reading through some commentaries on today’s passage. One particular statement about putting on an appearance of faith but not really being connected to the True Vine highlighted the truth more than any other. Sadly, I have not only been the one who thought someone was connected to Jesus when they weren’t, but I have also been the one who appeared connected when, in reality, I was just going through the motions.

Why does it matter?

Earlier in our journey, as Bibleref.com points out, “Jesus distinguished between branches in a vine and branches, which abide in the vine.” In other words, “Merely being close to the source of life is not enough; neither is being intertwined with other branches. For putting on the appearance of faith is not the same as being born again.1” It is crucial to understand this, as “Only branches truly connected to the source of life, the true vine, will bear fruit.” Another critical and difficult truth of Jesus’ teaching here is that – “A good vinedresser (gardener) cuts out those dead, fruitless branches and destroys them. The analogy Jesus presents here is not about the loss of salvation, which is impossible. Rather, His message is about those who ‘put on’ an appearance of faith, but are disconnected from the True Vine that gives eternal life.”

We must remember, “bearing true spiritual fruit” is only possible through the Vine – Christ ‘in’ us. And – that fruit, like any other good works or holiness, is always presented as evidence of salvation, never as a requirement for it.

Bibleref.com/John 15:6

Reflection question: Are there areas in your life where you feel disconnected or spiritually dry? How might renewing your connection with Jesus help restore these areas and allow you to bear the fruit He desires for you?

The More We Know

While there are many in the church today who claim to be Christians, if all they produce is bad, rotten fruit, they are not true disciples of Jesus and have never been attached to the true Vine. … At the same time, we may be confident that if we have truly surrendered ourselves to Jesus, the Father will make sure that we bear fruit. He has promised it. He will judge those who don’t belong, but He prunes and disciplines those who do. He will cut away the dead branches but cultivate the living ones.” From the LGG Journal, p75

For more insight on today’s journey, be sure and read today’s LGG Blog Post

  1. “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. 22 On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ 23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ Matthew 7:21-23 ↩︎
Posted in Abide, Abiding in jesus, Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

Fruitful Abiding

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based on the LGG Study, Abiding in Jesus,w2d2

Read: John 15:5; SOAP: John 15:5

“I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me—and I in him—bears much fruit, because apart from me you can accomplish nothing.

John 15:5 NET

If you had to do a double-take to make sure you weren’t rereading the previous post, rest assured, you’re not. It is, however, quite similar. It actually appears that Jesus was recapping His previous statements. Repetition in Scripture is quite common and is meant to get our attention. In verses 1-4 of John 15, Jesus has made numerous references to Himself as the vine and has clarified several times that the disciples are the branches, as well as the role and importance of abiding. Bearing fruit is also mentioned five times, emphasizing the role of the branch. What we see from all the repetition is that Jesus wants His disciples to understand the importance that He and the Father play in the life of a disciple, and to know that while bearing fruit is the goal for every believer, they cannot accomplish this without the Vine and the Gardener.

 “I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener. 2 He takes away every branch that does not bear fruit in me. He prunes every branch that bears fruit so that it will bear more fruit. 3 You are clean already because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you.  Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me.

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me—and I in him—bears much fruit, because apart from me you can accomplish nothing.

John 15:1-5

While some may be overwhelmed at the thought of having to bear “much” fruit, they should find hope and encouragement that they do not have to do it alone. Still others, the “I can do this myself” person, may see it as a personal challenge and plow ahead, determined to get it done, yet find it discouraging when they yield no fruit in their own strength. This is because abiding is the key. As today’s LGG Journal entry points out, we must “remember our role. We are branches, not the Vine. When we’re weak, He is strong, and it’s perfectly okay” (and necessary) “to lean into that truth. Apart from Him, we can do nothing. When we abide in Him, He does the heavy lifting.”

Because I am at a place in my life where the simplest of tasks can, at times, seem overwhelming, knowing that I do not have to “bear much fruit” by myself comes as great encouragement. However, this does not mean I can sit idly by. I must faithfully live in Christ. This means that I must daily depend on Jesus through faith and prayer. When a believer lives like this, they draw nourishment from the Vine and tender care from the Gardener, which produces more and more fruit from the branch.

Friends, may we not strive in our own strength but stay connected to the Vine and yielded to the Gardener, so that we bear much fruit and draw others to Him.

Reflection Question: In what areas of your life do you feel pressure to produce or make things happen on your own? How might focusing on abiding in Jesus, rather than striving, help you bear fruit in a way that brings peace and joy?

Posted in Abide, Abiding in jesus, Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

Abide in Me

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based on the LGG Study, Abiding in Jesus,w2d1

Read: John 15:3-4; SOAP: John 15:4

(note: clicking the link for the above verse will allow you to read from whatever version you prefer)

3 You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

John 15:3-4 NLT

Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

John 15:3-4 KJV

Last week’s journey centered largely on the teaching of Jesus, that He is the vine, God is the gardener, and His disciples are the branches. He told the disciples that, as the Gardener, God will prune the branches that bear fruit so that they will produce even more fruit. Picking up today in verses three and four, we find Jesus encouraging His disciples that they are already clean because of the Word, or the Gospel message, he has spoken to them.

However, our focus is on the command that follows, what it means, what it doesn’t mean, and why it is important. Read it out loud: “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.”

  • What it means: We (the branches)are dependent on Christ (the life-giving vine).
  • What it doesn’t mean: The concept here is not about losing your salvation. Salvation is the free and eternal gift of God’s grace earned not by works but through faith in Jesus Christ. If you doubt this or have any questions, I urge you to visit https://www.gotquestions.org/vine-and-branches.html
  • Why it’s important to abide (remain) in Jesus: Jesus makes it clear to the disciples that they are to bear fruit, but that they cannot do that apart from Him. His emphasis here is that we need to stay intimately (closely, daily, nothing between us and Him) connected to Him in order to be spiritually healthy and bear fruit.

Friends, if we want to be healthy, fruit-bearing followers of Christ who spread light in/to the world around us, we must stay close to Jesus, our life-giving vine. In Him we find our strength, we find peace, and we bear fruit. Apart from Him, we will surely wither and fade.

Do you want to be a light for Him? Read His Word and pray daily. The more time you spend with Him, the more you will reflect Him.

Do you want your conversations to be encouraging and full of grace and truth rather than spewing hate, gossip, or lies? Spend time with Him in His Word. It truly has the power to change the way we think and speak, not to mention how we love others.

Do you want to love Him more and follow Him faithfully? Find the passages of His love poured out for you, His boundless grace, and His mercies that are new every morning are game changers.

James wrote it like this: Come close to God, and God will come close to you (James 5:8). I have both tested and tasted the truth of this statement, and I assure you it is a blessing beyond compare to experience the nearness of our God, and the relationship which blossoms from it.

Reflection: What are some areas in your life that may need “cleaning” or renewal through God’s Word?

The More We Know

“When new branches start to grow, they often droop low to the ground. As they touch the soil, dirt and mud begin to cling to them, which can stop them from growing strong and bearing good fruit. To help them thrive, a gardener has to gently lift the branches, carefully washing away the dirt, so they can reach their full potential and produce good fruit.

For us, we experience a similar “cleaning,” through God’s Word. As we read and renew our minds with Scripture, God shows us areas in our lives where things need to change. It may be areas where sin has muddled our lives and hindered us from receiving the nourishment we need to grow. But hope is not lost. Through God’s Word, it’s as if He lovingly lifts, cleanses, and restores us, allowing us to grow and bear the good fruit we were created to produce.”

Abiding in Jesus/p67

Posted in Abide, Abiding in jesus, Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

Fellowship with God

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based on the LGG Study, Abiding in Jesus/w1d5

Read and SOAP: 1 John 1:6

If we say we have fellowship with Him and yet keep on walking in the darkness, we are lying and not practicing the truth.

1 John 1:6

The following post is from the LGG Journal, Abiding in Jesus, p. 57, and can also be found on the Love God Greatly app/w1d5. If you are not familiar with Love God Greatly, visit https://lovegodgreatly.com/about/ . The ministry is filled with women who love the Lord and are working hard “to help EVERY WOMAN in EVERY NATION have access to God’s Word in THEIR LANGUAGE.” God is using the ministry to change the lives of women here and around the world, and He has used it to change me from the insideout. 🦋

Walking in the light through confession

“Abiding in Christ means choosing to walk in His light, live transparently before Him, and allow His truth to shape every part of our lives. But sin disrupts this fellowship and creates a distance between us and God.

That is why we need to make confessing our sins to God a regular habit in our lives. Confession is a powerful, freeing practice that keeps our hearts free and aligned with God. It isn’t simply about listing our wrongs and moving forward without any change. It’s about bringing all our sins before Him because we are truly sorry, surrendering fully to His grace, and walking in humility and obedience.

As we confess, Jesus steps into our brokenness and heals us. He reminds us that His love and grace are greater than our failures.

This ongoing process of confession and cleansing is essential to bearing fruit. Just as a vine requires clean, unhindered pathways to deliver nutrients to its branches, we need to keep the pathway to Christ open. When we confess, we allow the Holy Spirit to flush out all the accumulated dirt. This is where true fruit is born, not from our own efforts but from a heart fully surrendered to Him.

Abiding in Christ is an act of trust. Even when we fall short, He is faithful to restore us. Confession isn’t a burden but an invitation to have our guilt removed, to walk more intimately with Jesus, and let His love work deeply in our hearts.

Dear Jesus, thank You for Your mercy. Help me to stay close to You by confessing my sins to You and allowing Your grace to cleanse and restore me. Amen.”

The More We Know

If you don’t know Jesus as your personal Savior, or if you have questions about how to know Him and receive His free gift, please click on “Know These Truths.”

https://atomic-temporary-62140760.wpcomstaging.com/2023/03/14/know-these-truths/
Posted in Abide, Abiding in jesus, Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

Light of the World

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based on the LGG Study, Abiding in Jesus/w1d4

Read and SOAP: matthew 5:16

In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good deeds and give honor to your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:16

Okay, friends, just as we did in our previous day’s journey, we need to look back at the verses that came before this one. Why? Because we need to understand what the phrase “in the same way” refers to. This is a very familiar verse to most who have been in church for any amount of time, however, while we know that we are supposed to be lights for Jesus so that God is glorified, do we understand how/what way we are supposed to let it shine? Also, do we understand that the light serves a specific purpose?

Let’s break it down ….

  • In the same way (this begs us to ask and answer the question: What way?
    • to find the answer, we must look back at what Jesus had just said to the disciples
      • “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.” (verses 14 & 15)
        1. in verses 14 and 15, “we see believers depicted as the light of the world. Just as the moon has no light of its own, reflecting the light of the sun, so are believers to reflect the Light of Christ so that all can see it in us. The Light is evident to others by the good deeds we do in faith and through the power of the Holy Spirit.” (gotquestions.org)
        2. “The emphasis here is maintaining a credible and obvious witness in the world, a witness that shows us to be faithful, God-honoring, trustworthy, sincere, earnest, and honest in all that we do.” (gotquestions.org)
  • Let your light shine
    • this is a personal mission for followers of Jesus
  • before people
    • there is a collective target
  • so that they can see your good deeds
    • there is a specific reason and
  • and a targeted outcome
    • God receives honor in Heaven
The More We Know

We should always be ready to give an account of the hope that we have (1 Peter 3:15), for the gospel Light we have is not to be covered, but made obvious for all to see and benefit from, that they, too, may leave the darkness and come into the Light.

Gotquestions.org

Posted in Abide, Abiding in jesus, Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study

Work It Out

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based on the LGG Study, Abiding in Jesus/w1d3

Read and SOAP: Philippians 2:12-13

So then, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, continue working out your salvation with awe and reverence, 13 for the one bringing forth in you both the desire and the effort—for the sake of his good pleasure—is God.

Philiipians 2:12-13

I remember the first time I really read this verse, and trust me when I say that to fully understand it, you need to know what came before the “so then.” Without a clear understanding, I fell prey to questioning the statement and meaning of “working out your salvation.” I am a firm believer that salvation is not by works but is a free gift from God to all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. So I quickly read it again and checked various translations and eventually sought the help from my Pastor at the time to understand what Paul meant by “working out your salvation.” Thus was born my understanding that phrases like “so then” serve as a cue for the reader or listener to look back for the broader context and a better understanding of what is to follow.

In this case, what came before was a beautifully written character description of Christ, preceded by clear instructions of “how not to behave.”

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. 5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 6 Though He was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, He gave up his divine privileges; He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When He appeared in human form, 8He humbled Himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

You see, friends, Paul wasn’t teaching us to work for our salvation but to live out our salvation, or as the NLT translates it: “To show the results of our salvation.” In other words to exercise the salvation we have received through Christ. This means to practice loving others as Christ loves us. It means doing good works that God has given us to do, sharing the Gospel, being kind and patient, humble, and not selfish but selfless, It means loving God and others more than we love ourselves. It means not looking out just for “our own interests but for the interests of others, too.” Ultimately, it means laying down everything for the will of the Father. Why? Because when we do – we reflect Jesus to the world around us and God receives the glory!

While we are called to work out (live out) our salvation, it doesn’t mean it will come easy. As today’s LGG journal entry points out: “the Bible makes it clear that the only reason we are able to do so is because God makes it possible. ~ God is both the source and sustainer of our faith. As we remain in Him, He works through us, producing fruit that will last, bringing glory to Him and blessings to others.”

Staying connected to Jesus, the Vine, and allowing God to transform you is what it means to abide.

Abiding in Jesus/p49
The More We Know

For more insight see the LGG Blog Post

Posted in Abide, Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

The Necessity of Pruning

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based on the LGG Study, Abiding in Jesus/w1d2

Read and SOAP: John 15:2

He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.

John 15:2

Whether we are women who devote a lot of time to hair and make-up and great detail to the clothes we put on, or we’re a jeans and t-shirt and just the basics kind of woman – I would venture to say that most of us at least look in the mirror before we leave the house. Bells and whistles or just the basics may not matter, but a poor reflection of who we are should. My parents raised me to remember that what I said and did, where I went, and how I behaved and talked mattered and were a reflection on the family I belonged to.

And whatever you do and say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

Colossians 3:17

As I grew in my faith, I learned the same was true, and even more so, in the family of God. While God looks at the heart and not the outward appearance of man, what we do and say in this world should be a reflection of Jesus Christ and not the world. This may seem overwhelming at times, even impossible. However, just as my parents provided for me and taught me right from wrong, God has given me everything I need for living a godly life. He did so with the purpose that every follower of Jesus would bear Christ-like fruit and attract others to Him.

Today’s verse is a reminder that we don’t have to do this alone. Actually, as the branches in this allegory, we can’t. For, as the branches, we are dependent both on the vine (Jesus), who gives us new life, and the gardener (God), who shapes us and trains us in the way we should go. When I made a mistake as a child, my parents would correct me, training me and pointing me in a better direction. Today’s passage is a reminder that God does the same thing through his work of pruning, not to hurt us but to help us live full and vibrant lives in Christ “so that we will bear more fruit.” As we will see in the coming days of our journey, when a believer bears “fruit” they are a reflection of Christ to the world around them.

Our lives and the fruit we bear are meant to glorify Him and bless others. That’s why our Heavenly Father will not leave us the way we are. Being disciplined or pruned may hurt us, but it will never harm us. God is always after our good, and we can always trust Him,” even in the pruning.

Abiding In Jesus, Bearing Fruit that Lasts/p45

I love most fruits, so when I see them in a store or market, they attract my attention. However, the ones that really catch my eye and land in my shopping basket are the vibrant, healthy ones. Discolored bananas? No thanks. Mushy or moldy strawberries? No way! Bright oranges are absolutely going in the basket, but never the faded ones. I can’t help but think this is how it is for ‘church shoppers,’ non-believers, or skeptics of Christianity when they see or hear a believer in their neighborhood, office place, a sporting venue, school, or anywhere in the world. We need to ask ourselves: Do they see vibrant, healthy, appealing fruit, or are they turned away by the discoloration of the world, still noticeable in our language, attitudes, and/or behavior? Oh, that we might faithfully abide in the Vine and yield to the Gardener’s care and pruning so that we might bear more fruit that glorifies God and blesses others.

The More We Know
Trusting the Gardener’s Pruning: by LGG