John 15:1-17 (New Living Translation)
John 15
Jesus, the True Vine
“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.
9 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! 12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. 13 There is no greater love than 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 slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. 16 You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other.
Scripture:
12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.
17 This is my command: Love each other.
Application: Again, I am still struggling with using kinder words, being more patient, and most of all, more loving with my children, and my husband. I get very impatient, frustrated, and then just feel angry and I hate this feeling and need to change. Today was a good day. I was patient, I was calm, I worked hard on not getting angry and only a couple of times had to stop and rein myself in. Like I said, it was a good day. I am working hard, and it is very hard, but I do feel I am making progress. These passages speak to my heart about how I need to change to show my love, that God and Jesus want me to love and not be angry, frustrated, impatient. I think as I keep praying, learning, working hard, it will get easier and easier as I develop new habits for handling life as it comes flying by. Keep me and my changes in your prayers!
Prayer: Lord, please hold me close to You. Show me Your love so that I may share it with my family. Use your love to change me, to make me a better mother, daughter, wife, sister, and friend. Help me make loving choices and act out of kindness, not impatience. Your love is working in me and through me and is making me a better person, I can feel it! In Your Name, Amen