"If
you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will
be done for you. "My Father is
glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My
disciples. "Just as the Father has
loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. "If you keep My commandments, you will
abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His
love. "These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and
that your joy may be made full.
Insights: As a child of God we
receive all kinds of benefits. We do not
deserve them and we most definitely cannot earn them. Yet, God graciously bestows them onto us. This week we have examined four such benefits
of abiding in the Vine. First, we get to
pray to God. We live in such a
technological society that we take for granted our ability to speak with anyone
anywhere through our computers, cell phones, or even those antiquated land
lines. Well we have an even faster
connection with God and that is a benefit we ought to use regularly. Second, we get the privilege of bearing fruit
for God. In fact it is our fruit bearing
that proves we are His disciples. What
better feeling can one receive than leading another person to Jesus
Christ? I promise you there is nothing
greater on this side of eternity. It
produces a joy beyond compare. Third, we
get loved by God. It still boggles my
mind that the Creator of the universe wants to have a relationship with me; and
that He loves me so much that He sent His Son to die in my place for my sins. What an amazing love. Finally, we looked at the joy we receive in
Jesus. And that joy far exceeds anything
this earth has to offer. There are so
many other benefits we could have listed, but these are the four present from
this week’s passage of Scripture. Let me
encourage you to do as the old hymn states, “Count your many blessings, name
them one by one. Count your many
blessings, see what God has done.” The
benefits of blessing you receive from the Lord are worth any sacrifice He asks
you to make. Beloved, abide in Him and
experience Him to His full and your joy truly will overflow.
Questions:
- What benefits are you personally receiving from the
Lord presently?
- Are you taking advantage of all God is offering you or are you holding back and not receiving all of His grace?
Prayer: Jesus, thank You for all of the blessings You bestow on my
life. Help me to cherish them and never
take them for granted. Let me abide in
You and grow in grace so that I may display Your mercy to those around me. Amen.
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