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"I
am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me
that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears
fruit He prunes that it may bear more fruit."
John 15:1-2
God the Father is the "vinedresser", Jesus
is the "true vine" and the Holy Spirit is the "living water". We are
the branches of the true vine. Jesus goes on to say, in John 15:4:
"Abide in Me and I in you, as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself,
unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me".
We
cannot bear fruit unless we abide in Christ. Have you been abiding in
Christ?
Have you been listening earnestly and longingly for the
voice of the LORD God? Have you been seeking Him each day? If so, have
you felt the gentle loving touch of the Master Gardener as you walked
along the garden path? Have you been reaping the benefits of His love
and wisdom so as not to face the challenges of life in your own
inadequate strength and ability?
While preparing a study relating to "The Master's Garden", I was typing
Eve's response to God (Genesis 3:13). "And the LORD God said to the
woman, 'What is this you have done?' And the woman said, 'The serpent
deceived me, and I ate." My fingers somehow had moved out of place on
the keyboard, and I looked up to see that what I had typed as Eve's
response was gibberish. How appropriate - we need to be mindful that
when we do anything, outside of the will of God, the results will be
unfruitful; and our excuses, merely gibberish.
As
we abide in Christ, God cultivates the soil and removes the choking,
damaging and entangling weeds so that we can bear abundant fruit. God
wants to create a clean fertile heart in each of us. Let us praise God
as He does the pruning, as it is He who works everything together for
the good for those who are the called according to His purpose.
Rejoice! He is preparing you and me for the ultimate harvest.
"Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD
and whose hope is in the LORD. For he shall be like a tree planted by
the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear
when heat comes, but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in
the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit." Jeremiah
17:7-8
Monthly devotions are written by Robert and Laura Nance,
musicians/artists gifted by the Lord. The
current devotion features artwork by Laura and music by Robert.
You can view
their website by clicking on
the link
below:
http://www.robertandlauranance.com
Control background music
"Timbrel And Dance" © - By Robert Nance
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