Remain In Me

Date: February 25, 2023

I use the BLESS method every morning for my devotional. 

B - Bible Verse
L - Listen for God's Word and pray
E - Explore the History and meaning
S - Study and savor
S - Summarize and Share

You can read more about it by going to: What is a Faith Journal?

Bible Scripture Verse – John 15:5

"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."

Listen for God’s Voice

Father God, thank you for reminding us of the importance of staying connected to you. We are like branches on a vine, and without you, we can do nothing. We ask that you strengthen our connection to you, so that we may bear much fruit in our lives.

Please guide us in remaining in you, and may your spirit dwell within us, so that we may be empowered to live out your will. We pray for the wisdom and discernment to know how to remain connected to you, and to make decisions that are aligned with your.

We pray all these things in your holy name. Amen.

Explore History – Who wrote it, when and to what audience? Key people in the story?

The Gospel of John was most likely written by the apostle John sometime between AD 70 and 100, several decades after the death of Jesus. Most likely it was written to a primarily Jewish audience because it contains a lot of references to Jewish customs and beliefs.

The purpose of this book was to present Jesus as the divine Son of God, emphasizing his teachings and miracles as evidence of his identity. The gospel also emphasizes the importance of faith in Jesus as the key to eternal life.

Today’s scripture is a metaphor that Jesus made to His disciples explaining the importance of staying connected to Him in order to bear fruit in their lives. 

Study and Savor – Key Words

Vine - This word is used as a metaphor for Jesus, who is the source of life and strength for his followers.

Branches - This word refers to the followers of Jesus, who are connected to him and depend on him for life and growth.

Remain - This word emphasizes the importance of staying connected to Jesus in order to bear fruit and live a fruitful life.

Fruit - This word refers to the positive results that come from a life connected to Jesus, such as good works and spiritual growth.

Summarize and Share

It is so important to stay connected to Jesus, especially today. It’s can be easy to become distracted and disconnected from our faith, but this scripture reminds us that true fulfillment and purpose can only be found in a close relationship with Jesus.

As followers of Jesus, we are called to remain connected to him, just as branches are connected to a vine. This means that we must intentionally seek out opportunities to deepen our relationship with Jesus through prayer, reading the Bible, and participating in Christian community.

When we remain connected to Jesus, our lives are transformed in countless ways. We begin to bear fruit in our lives, which can take the form of good works, spiritual growth, and positive impact on those around us. We also gain a sense of peace and purpose that can only come from a life lived in close relationship with Jesus.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of seeking fulfillment through worldly pursuits such as material possessions, status, or popularity. However, these things are fleeting and can never truly satisfy the deepest longings of our hearts. Only Jesus can provide the true fulfillment that we seek, and this can only be found through a close relationship with him.

As we navigate the challenges and distractions of modern life, be intentional about staying connected to Jesus. Prioritize time with him in our daily routines, seek out opportunities for spiritual growth, and lean on him for guidance and strength. When we do so, we can be confident that our lives will be transformed in powerful and meaningful ways, and that we will experience the true fulfillment that comes from a life lived in close relationship with Jesus.

Bible Cross Reference

Galatians 5:22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." 

1 Corinthians 3:7 "So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow."

Psalm 1:1-3  "Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers."

Romans 12:4-5 "For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others."