Read (from the New Living Translation)
1“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. 3 You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.
5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.
John 15:1-8
Go Deep
Aaron Shust explains the practical – and absolutely crucial – ways he stays peaceful even on the hardest days.
Notes from the Beyond Suffering Bible
Our Source for the Christian Life – Jesus’ final self-identifying “I am” statement gives us the secret to the Christian life. As a grape branch must remain attached to the grapevine, we must “remain in” Jesus (15:4). Jesus is not discussing salvation here, but rather the fruit of salvation. Remaining in Jesus involves getting into his Word (15:7), and it always results in bearing the kind of fruit that Jesus produces in his people (Gal 5:22-23). No matter our circumstances, only by remaining in Christ will we be successful and produce the fruit of God.
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