I love Jesus with all my heart, mind, and soul. He is my Lord, and the rock my salvation. When I am weak, He lifts me up. I am so blessed! How is this possible, some may wonder? It is because I have given my life to Christ. I no longer say I believe alone, but also abide in His love. This is what has changed my whole life and allowed His fruit to be on display for men and women of this world to see. Surely, I am nothing, but what He has wrought in me is very good indeed. Just as Jesus said in John 15, has come to life with me. It reads, starting with verse 1, 1“I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” (John 15:1-5) My friends, I am nothing in myself alone, but in Christ alone, I can do all things. He has purged the wickedness from my heart and filled me with the Holy Spirit. And now I am clean because He has spoken it. Praise the Lord for the goodness and grace that is in Him.
Although I am secure in Christ Jesus, I know that there are many other people that are also found within Him also. They are also his branches, as Jesus is the vine, leading to the Father. Praise the Lord for all the people that have already come to Jesus and are now following Him and for those that are now coming unto Him. We are all together in the fold of Christ, ready and willing to do as He says for our lives, which brings us joy abundant. Now, in saying this, I know that there are people that are not abiding in Jesus and are living their own lives instead. And oh the danger they are in, lest they repent and come to Jesus before their time is done. For Jesus said, 1“If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.” (John 15:6-9) You see, my friends, salvation comes when we continue in our walk with Christ, even until the end. We don’t just walk for a time with the Lord, but all our lives. It is my prayer that you are not one of those that will be burned in hell come death, but that you will be raised up into eternal life in heaven.
Let us pray:
Lord, I love Your ways. To abide in You brings me love that never ends. Therefore, I need Your presence in my life at all times, that I may continue to do as You say. My thoughts, desires, and actions, are only filthy rags if they are not mended with Your righteous counsel in them. I don’t wish to do the things in this life that displeases You, but only do what You command for me. I say this because my ways are evil without You. I say the wrong things, and hurt people that I love when I don’t listen to Your voice. And sadly I have felt much grief and pain because of my own selfish ambitions. So rip out of my heart every part of me that is defiant against Your best wishes. Make me conformed to Your holy ways and not my own. Then, I will be able to listen and obey Your calling for my life. May I walk in Your continued love, that others will be blessed also. You have made me to despise wickedness and I am grateful for that. For this reason, I do not wish to have anyone fall into the same willful sins that I have. So instead, instill in me and other Christians that love You, verses from the Bible, that we might teach those that are lost and are walking in darkness. Help instill in us a light that will shine forth in the darkness, that people will be drawn unto You. May there be fruit in our lives as we get up each day to serve You in Your kingdom. Surely, You are my Shepherd, the vine of the vineyard, and I am willing to serve You, even until the ends of this earth. Lead me always. Keep me in Your care, that no person will take me down with them. Keep me upright in Your holiness that temptation will not lead me into sinning against You. I love You, Lord. Amen.