Connection with GodSample

DAILY SCRIPTURE

“Remain 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.” (John 15:4)

REMAINING IN GOD

The life of a believer is not a ‘one off’ event, or simply an isolated decision made at one time or another; it is a current and ongoing relationship where we have the choice to say ‘yes’ to Jesus moment by moment, day by day.

One of the most beautiful parts of the Christian life is that we each have the privilege of walking in relationship with the Holy Spirit every single day - receiving his love, giving him our love, learning from him, growing in him, communicating with him and being moulded by him increasingly into the likeness of Jesus. We can know with certainty that as we remain in Jesus, he will remain in us. He will never leave us or forsake us (see Hebrews 13:5).

However, this does not mean we do nothing or have no responsibilities. Our role is to “remain in the vine”. We must stay connected to Jesus, knowing that this connection is the only way fruit can truly be produced in our lives. Jesus’ illustration of the importance of a branch staying connected to the vine is a wonderful metaphor for the importance of staying connected to him. We do this as we give him our consistent ‘yes’ and by positioning our relationship with him first and foremost in every area of our lives, keeping our focus on him and allowing him to produce his fruit in and through us.

THOUGHTS FOR PRAYER AND REFLECTION

• What do you think it means to remain in Jesus? Why is that important to you?
• What are some of the reasons why you think Jesus wants you to stay connected to him?
• What are some areas that you would like to grow deeper in your connection with God?