Morning Devotional 060125 Growing Into Eternity

Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room

June 1, 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! This is the day that the Lord has made!

I love looking at beautiful flowers. When they are growing in my garden, I want to bring some indoors so that I can enjoy them further. The problem is that once you cut them, their life expectancy significantly decreases. Once the flowers are separated from the plant, which provides the nutrients necessary to sustain life, they quickly die. We work to prolong the life of the flowers by adding chemicals or controlling temperature and humidity. We even trim the bottoms of the stems, but eventually, there is no more stem to trim.

If we apply that same analogy to us, the children of God. God is the vinedresser, gardener, and protector. Jesus is the vine upon which we grow, and we are the branches. We grow and flourish as long as we remain in Jesus, but if we cut our ties and go off on our own, we will shrivel and die. We can work to sustain our lives, but in the end, without Jesus, our lives end, and we remain in eternal darkness. 

Through Christ’s resurrection, God conquered death and offers to sustain our lives into eternity, not in darkness but surrounded by light and glory. Hallelujah! Amen!

Giving Lord, who blesses us abundantly! Thank you for loving us and being our protector. Help us remain in Christ all our days! Thank you. We love you, Lord! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen

Thought for the day: When we connect with God, we are encouraged and empowered.

Remain rooted in Christ! Pastor Liz