March 22: Effective service
John 15:1-17 TNIV from Biblegateway.com
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 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. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because servants do not know their master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.
Devotional Comments:
I grew up in the city and had limited experience with growing things. But since that time I have become quite fascinated with the power of plants to produce so much from so little. When you consider a bunch of grapes, it is amazing to see the mass of the fruit compared to the thin little vines connecting them. All that water, sugar and other elements that make that grape is carried from the ground and the leaves – Amazing!
This passage contains a comparison which makes a powerful truth easier for us to grasp. The spiritual comparison is of course to us. We can produce fruit, of the kind that Jesus wants us to, if we are connected to him.
What if we are not? In the modern day, there are many charitable things being done to help others. One has only to look at the incredible response to the Haitian earthquake for an example. This money will do much good. But if God is not in our efforts to do good, the urge to give will die over time.
We have to believe that our desire to serve and give are promptings directed by God so the acts will go further, last longer or be for effective.
Robert Rudolf
Pray for the people of Haiti. May God use us to relieve their suffering.