John 15:9-17, Real Fruit

“You did not choose me, but I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you.”

‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭16‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

Lord, what a privilege that You choose those who follow You.  I am not worth being selected on my own.  I need Your Spirit inside me to do anything good.  If I didn’t have the power of Your Spirit motivating me, I would only be producing fake fruit that does not last…it would take incredible effort and still be rotten.  Lord, help me to rest in You, as You produce the fruit in my life!

John 15:1-8, Super Fruit

“Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. 

My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be my disciples.”

‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭4‬, ‭8‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

Lord, I pray that I would be surrendered to you so that fruit would be produced in me…by Your power…For Your glory!

John 14:27-31, Disappointment vs Peace

“Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful.”

‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭27‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

What is the peace that the world gives?  In fact it is no peace at all…but rather something closer to forgetfulness of the stressful moments, or even the hope of peace promised but never delivered for long…often the calm before the next storm.

Jesus peace, though, is internal calm in light of external chaos.  It is confident rest in the promises of an all powerful God.  It is comfort through the most tragic suffering possible, because God is literally right next to us in the valley of the shadow of death.  Peace because we are not deserted or thrown back to the wolves of our condemning mind.  No, we are His ETERNALLY!! 

The peace that Jesus gives is a gift to us because He has completed the work of our salvation, and there is nothing I can do to screw it up!  My biggest failing would be to reject the gift of true peace and embrace the false, fleeting and phony “peace” the world offers.  Effectively embracing a life of lies and tragically tantalizing disappointments.

John 14:18-26, Indwelling Peace

Jesus answered, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him… the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.”

‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭23‬, ‭26‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

Placing our faith in Jesus gives us the literal presence of God in our life.  The Holy Spirit is with us continually, which is awesome, but He also does the work of a counselor…reminding us of truth and showing us how scripture can apply to our lives.

Lord, help us to remember what a true blessing it is that You are literally with us at every moment of every day.  That should motivate us to obedience and thankfulness!  When I am feeling weak, low or frustrated, help me to turn to you and find joy and peace in Your presence!!!

John 14:12-17, Obedience: Greater works

 “Truly I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.”

“If you love me, you will keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. He is the Spirit of truth.”

‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭12‬, ‭15‬-‭17‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

The Spirit is the one who enables us to be obedient…I think obedience is the “greater works”.

John 14:8-11, Tainted Testimony

 “Jesus said to him, “Have I been among you all this time and you do not know me, Philip? The one who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?”

‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭9‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

What a convicting statement from Jesus.  We are called to be Christlike, and that is a constant process of becoming more like Him.  I pray that even in my weaknesses and fallenness others can at least see a glimpse of Christ in me…and therefore a glimmer of who God is.

I am called to be Gods ambassador, and therefore live and interact with others on behalf of Him.  Lord, help me to avoid tainting the freshness of Your life giving water as I provide samples to those around me through interactions with them!

John 14:1-7, Intimate God

 “If you know me, you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭7‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

How incredible that God wanted us to know Him so much that He sent Jesus to show us who He is, what He is like and how He operates.  That sounds like a God who desires personal relationship with you and me, not one who holds himself aloof and distant…Thank you for loving me!