Devotion
What kind of fruit would you be?
David Jacobs
If you have ever had a garden or farm, you may understand how rewarding and at times frustrating the relationship with plants can be. Small changes in the weather, pests, and our own mistakes can alter the bearings of the crop immensely. Considering these verses, how have you cultivated your own crop? Speaking from my own experiences, I would say that at times I have been ripe, strong, and able to withstand potential dangers that were thrown at me by nature. At my weaker times, I have been withered, bitter, and susceptible to any pest or disease that came my way.
What may be more important to consider from these verses is the symbiotic relationship that Jesus mentions. He is the vine and we are the branches, meaning that he benefits from us doing well. We are all stronger or weaker together. If we trust in him and glorify God, we will bear fruit and our branches will sprout new branches. Love will be paid forward; God and his son loved us, we love them, and we will continue to spread this love to others in contact with us.
In all of nature we can recognize the symbiotic relationship between all living things. This relationship extends to God and us. It is this that John describes, serving to highlight that both parties need each other. Think about your relationship with Christ: what kind of fruit would you bear?
Prayer
My Lord in Heaven, you have nurtured and nourished me through all of my life. You have sent your only begotten son, Jesus Christ, to tend your fields of believers, although we have at times wasted his care. I humbly ask that you strengthen my relationship with you, O Lord, so that I may strengthen others relationships with you as well. I ask all of this in your holy name. Amen.
Devotion
Abraham is Father of All
Frances Taylor
There are questions in every age about the importance of the Old Testament for Christians. Abraham is considered to be the Father of Faith for Jews, Christians and Muslims. We forget that it was Abraham who believed in the doctrine of only one God. It is through him and his descendants that this tradition comes down to us. Another fact that we can overlook is that Jesus was Jewish. He was born a Jew, lived as a Jew, died, rose and ascended into heaven as a Jew. Because we believe that he was the Messiah, the Christ, and we follow him, we are called Christian. Without the Old Testament, we wouldn't understand the promise of salvation; we wouldn't understand why it was important for Jesus to be of the family of King David. We would not understand his teaching either, because Jesus quoted from Scripture – the Old Testament – frequently. He told us that he came to fulfill the Scriptures, not to abolish them. In the same way, we can ...
