Good Wednesday afternoon. I hope you are having a great day! And, Happy International Women's Day! It has been my observation, over the years, that when a congregation is facing a major struggle it is often the women of the church that step up. I have found this to be especially true in a smaller church. I know there are exceptions to this, but it is often the case. The ladies step in and save the day. To the women of the church I say "Thank you." Here is today's devotional from "Connect the Testaments" and it is a really good one.
March 8: The Vine and the Branches
Numbers 7:48–89; John 15:1–16:4; Psalm 9:1–7
Jesus isn’t simply a high priority or even the highest priority of our lives. He is the source of life. In the Gospel of John, Jesus teaches the disciples that they need to depend on Him for their very lives—both in the present and for eternal life.“I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him—this one bears much fruit, for apart from me you are not able to do anything. If anyone does not remain in me, he is thrown out as a branch, and dries up, and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned” (John 15:5–6).
We rarely think in these terms today. However, the disciples faced persecution and even death on account of their faith in Jesus. Our lives, like theirs, will be held to the same measure. They are being held to the same measure.
Today, when you look at your life, and the lives of those closest to you, do you see fruit and abundance? Or do you see another picture? Are you like a dried-up branch, devoid of any good works that speak of a godly source? Do your relationships suffer because you are at the center, not Jesus?
Throughout the trials you face—whether big or small—cling to Jesus as the source and giver of life. May you remain in His love. And may His love fill you with abundance and cause you to bear fruit for His kingdom.
How does your life bear fruit?
REBECCA VAN NOORD
John D. Barry and Rebecca Kruyswijk, Connect the Testaments: A One-Year Daily Devotional with Bible Reading Plan (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012).
Until tomorrow,
Pastor Joe
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