Spend time in prayer and silence with God asking Him to meet with you and speak to you.
Bible Reading
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. You can’t bear fruit unless you remain in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”
– John 15:1-8
Devotion
Here Jesus is communicating to His disciples the importance of them being meaningfully connected to Himself. He emphasizes how the branches (us) must be joined to the Vine (Jesus). For what purpose? For fruit-bearing. The fruit Jesus is referring to here is the fruit of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians chapter five: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. This is the fruit in the life of a follower of Jesus. Abiding in Christ will produce these attributes of Jesus in our lives so that the world will know that we are Christ’s disciples.
The Big Question
How intimate is this connection that Jesus is describing, using the common cultural knowledge of the grapevine? Are you abiding in the Vine? What will it take for you to experience deeper intimacy in your relationship with Jesus?
Conclude your time in prayer and silence reflecting on what God revealed to you today.