John 15:4, 5 - The Pursuit of God.
John 15:4, 5 (ESV) Abide in me, and I in
you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself,
unless it abides in the vine, neither can you,
unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the
branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is
that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can
do nothing.
John 15:4, 5 (MSG) Live in me. Make your
home in me just as I do in you. In the same way
that a branch can't bear grapes by itself but
only by being joined to the vine, you can't bear
fruit unless you are joined with me. I am the
Vine, you are the branches. When you're joined
with me and I with you, the relation intimate and
organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant.
Separated, you can't produce a thing.
COMMENTARY PEARL SUPREME
All who receive Christ by faith become
one with Him...
So those who receive Christ by faith
become one with Him in principle and action. They
are united to Him, and the life they live is the
life of the Son of God. They derive their life
from Him who is life...
The heart must be united with Christ's
heart, the will must be submerged in His will, the
mind must become one with His mind, the thoughts
must be brought into captivity to Him...
The regenerated man has a vital
connection with Christ. Christ has provided means
whereby our whole life may be an unbroken communion
with Himself; but the sense of Christ's abiding
presence can come only through living faith... {HP
56}
COMMENTARY PEARL
A glance at today's headlines could lead
us to conclude that we live in pretty bleak
times. There is great uncertainty about the future,
especially among teens and twenty-somethings. Many feel
they have nothing to grasp, no one to believe in,
and no one to trust except themselves.
I would like to say there is something to
grasp. There is someone to trust in, but it is not
ourselves. It is the God who created us.
Why am I here? What is my purpose in
life? These are questions that everyone should ask
as they look to the future, especially if they
are young. If we have no goals, purpose, or
guiding principles, then we will waste our lives
like so many others have wasted theirs. As it has
been said, if we aim at nothing, we're bound to
hit it.
According to the Bible, you don't find
happiness, fulfillment, and joy by just looking for
them here and there. These things are by-products
of a relationship with the living God, in
Christ. Let me put it this way: If you seek God and
live according to His plan for your life, then
you will find happiness. You will find joy. You
will also find fulfillment - not through the
pursuit of those things, but through the pursuit of
God. So seek Him! [Every Day with Jesus by Greg
Laurie]
CLOSING PEARL
When I was a new Christian, my pastor
encouraged me to memorize portions of Scripture. This
seemed like an impossible task. The Bible as a
whole can be intimidating, and I wasn't sure where
to start. I had been told to open to the New
Testament, and I had also been told that the Gospel of
John is a good place for beginners.
In chapter 15, the last few words of one
particular verse stood out. It wasn't that they were
lofty or spiritual, but they were surprising. They
made a claim that I needed to weigh. Speaking to
his disciples at the Last Supper, Jesus said,
"Apart from me you can do nothing." Nothing? I can
do nothing without him? I didn't understand.
Millions of people on the planet were doing things
every day, and yet they had no awareness of or
connection to Jesus. I needed to know why Jesus would
make a claim like that. So I chose to memorize
John 15:5.
I read it every day until one day I
finally got it, and I cried deep, soul-satisfying
tears. It's true: I can do nothing without you,
Jesus. Everything I have ever done before I knew
you and everything I try to do without you add
up to nothing. The only things that have
meaning are done with you and in your name and for
you.
I have been saved fifteen years now, and
this verse is still my favorite. I come back to
it time and again to keep myself in him and to
remember that I am nothing without him.
Oline Stehr is a homemaker, a wife, and
the mother of three. [The One Year Bible Live
Verse Devotional]
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS TOPIC
John 15:4, 5 - Abiding in Jesus Produces
Fruit.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20200609-1008.html
John 15:5 - LEARNING TO ABIDE IN JESUS.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2021/20210503-0932.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
Steps to Peace by Billy Graham:
https://stepstopeace.org/
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]
Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David
DeRose, MD, MPH:
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Hope Awakens Bible Study Guides:
https://www.hopeawakens.study/lesson-header;id=2
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
Panorama of Prophecy with Pastor Doug
Batchelor: https://www.panoramaofprophecy.com/
Islam and Christianity in Prophecy, The
Third and Final Conflict by Tim Roosenberg:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHSJB-fuHLU&list=PLWhQIHGTHlkaGg5Cwe3NDzWtFX8vNSpsE
Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of
Adventist World Radio: https://www.awr.org/bible
Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW:
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
