Happy New Year, Abundant Life, Family. I share with you one of my favorite passages from God’s Word. The Word Himself, Jesus, is speaking His words which fall like gentle kisses on our minds and hearts if we listen and see that He is speaking directly to us.
He said, “I am the vine, and my Father is the gardener. 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 ever more fruitful. You are already clean because of the Word I have spoken to you. 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.
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… If you remain in Me, and my Words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Now remain in My love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” John 15: 1 – 5, 7-12
I encourage you to encourage yourself often in your spiritual growth by studying these words of our Lord. He said, “I have told you this so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.” Another translation says, “So that your joy might be full.” Could you see yourself with your joy being completely full? Go back and read it again and again if you need to until you feel you have received what He is saying. He declares, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”