Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
March 6, 2025
John 15:1-8
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vineyard keeper. 2 He removes any of my branches that don’t produce fruit, and he trims any branch that produces fruit so that it will produce even more fruit. 3 You are already trimmed because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. A branch can’t produce fruit by itself, but must remain in the vine. Likewise, you can’t produce fruit unless you remain in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, then you will produce much fruit. Without me, you can’t do anything. 6 If you don’t remain in me, you will be like a branch that is thrown out and dries up. Those branches are gathered up, thrown into a fire, and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified when you produce much fruit and in this way prove that you are my disciples.
Good Morning. Jesus is the vine; we are the branches!
Remain in me, and I will remain in you!
When I have a lot of work to do, I sometimes find myself bouncing or pinging from one thing to another, like a pinball in an arcade game. I start one thing that leads me to another, and on it goes.
Imagine you’re cleaning the bedroom. In the process, you take your water cup back into the kitchen, where you see dishes that need to be washed. You wash the dishes, but as you are putting them away, you remember that you need to brown the meat for the stew you’re making for supper. Hours later, you walk into the bedroom and see you never finished what you started.
Jesus calls us to remain in him, but like the pinball I described, we bounce from one thing to another. We are pulled into working for earthly prizes instead of heavenly ones. We work to better ourselves instead of lifting up those in need.
To do the work of God, we must remain attached to the vine (Jesus) so the vineyard keeper (God) will tend us. Through this, we will produce much fruit to the glory of God.
Loving Lord, Maker of all things! You love us! Help us work through our distractions so that we can focus our work on you. We love you, Lord! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: Focus on Jesus to accomplish great things.
Jesus calls us to grow and prosper! Pastor Liz
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