John 15
(John 15:5 NLT) "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.” Through this action of ours the Father is glorified just as Jesus glorified the Father throughout His ministry here on earth. Jesus goes on to tell them that He has loved them just as the Father loved Him (verse 9) and again He tells them “Remain in My love.” How do we do this? By simple obedience, how do we obey? Read His Word so that you will know the truth and your spiritual eyes and ears will be opened. Have you ever seen a well-trained, obedient dog with his master? I can tell you that dog is far happier than the one on his own roaming the streets, not knowing where his next meal is coming from and unsure of what danger waits around every corner. His coat is dirty and shaggy; he is skinny and malnourished and cannot trust anyone for fear of losing what little he has. You see we are happiest and the most joy comes from being with the Master because like the dog who loves his owner we have a longing to be there. It was placed by the Creator in the heart of mankind long before we were born and it continues with each new life so that all may choose to either do right or wrong, choose the narrow path or the wide one, choose to spend a life time loving the Father or a life time wondering the earth for something to fill the God-shaped hole. The faithful, Jesus calls “friends” and no longer slaves because He has made known to them the will of the Father but He also reminds us that if the world hates Him they will hate us as well. The world has set itself against the Lord and a mighty, fearful fate they will one day meet because of choices of rejection they have made again and again even though they have seen with their own eyes the miraculous changes the Lord has done in you and me, as we glorify Him with our lives of worship.
