Daily Devotional – May 15-21
May 15 – Meditating on God’s Word
This devotional series offers less content but more opportunity for you to reflect, contemplate, and pray through the short Scriptures we offer. It is an opportunity to help us slow down and enjoy time in the presence of God. It is an exercise in listening with the intent of hearing from God through His Word and by His Spirit. Here is the passage for the week:
John 15:5-8, “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.
Prayer: “Father, as the Gardener, You have created a wonderful vineyard for us to participate in. It’s up to us to stay connected to Jesus so that we can bear lasting fruit. We don’t want to be like the branches that break away, die, and are burnt. We choose to remain in You and Your word so that we can know Your heart and ask for what is according to Your will. We want to bring you much glory by bearing much fruit so that others will know we belong to You. Amen.”
May 16 – Meditating on God’s Word
John 15:5, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit;
In order to help us think and pray upon these words, we will use the pattern of the W.O.R.D. I will offer my example, but you will want to do this exercise for yourself.
Write out the Scripture. (As it is or in your own words. This puts the word into your hand, head, and heart.)
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you stay in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit;”
Observe what it is saying. (Answer the who, what, when, where, why, and how questions)
Jesus spoke this allegory on the night before He was crucified to prepare His disciples for faithful and fruitful service ahead. He gave a very practical illustration from the vineyard about staying connected to the vine, the source of life, to experience spiritual success.
Relate it to your life. (Connect how this Scripture speaks into your life today.)
I am connected to Jesus! He is my source of life. I need to do all that I am able through spiritual practices to keep that connection alive and strong so that I can enjoy the fruit of the Spirit growing in me.
Do something. (Pray it. Live it. Act on it.)
“Jesus, keep me close to You. Don’t let me wander away. Don’t let me become disconnected. Keep a tight hold on me so that I can experience the fullness of the Christian life as You have planned for each of us. Amen.”
May 17 – Meditating on God’s Word
John 15:5, 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.
Write out the Scripture.
“Separated from Jesus, you have no power.”
Observe what it is saying.
As we saw yesterday, the first part of this verse tells us that we will bear much spiritual fruit when we stay closely connected to Jesus. Today’s brief word tells us when we don’t stay connected, we fail to bear fruit. We have absolutely no power to do what only the Spirit of Jesus can do within and through us.
Relate it to your life.
I need Jesus every day, every moment of every day, to be spiritually successful.
Do something.
“Jesus, by Your Spirit, keep my mind and heart on You. Remind me often that You are with me, that You love me, that You are at work within me. I want to bear fruit for You. Amen.”
May 18 – Meditating on God’s Word
John 15:6, 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.
Write out the Scripture.
“If you don’t stay connected, you’re like the branch that’s thrown away and put in the burn pile.”
Observe what it is saying.
This is vivid language for what ultimately happens if we don’t stay connected to our source of spiritual life. We fall away. We wither and die. We have no fruit. Our only use is to fuel the fire.
Relate it to your life.
This speaks to the harsh reality of what happens if I remove myself from Christ and the Body of Christ, from worship, from daily prayer and Scripture, from small group/Bible studies, from obedience to God’s word, from serving, giving, and loving others in Jesus.
Do something.
“Jesus, I’ve been redeemed to be more than firewood. You desire that I produce abundant spiritual fruit so that I can be a blessing to others and bring glory to the Father. Amen.”
May 19 – Meditating on God’s Word
John 15:7, If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
Write out the Scripture.
“If you stay in Me and My words stay in you, you can ask what’s in your heart, and it’ll be done.”
Observe what it is saying.
Jesus gives an amazing promise for prayer for those who abide closely to Him and His word. If we have such a deep and rich relationship with Jesus and live our lives obediently to His word, then our hearts will ask in prayer what God desires, and it will be given to us.
Relate it to your life.
Staying in Jesus and in Scripture gives me the heart and mind of God. With such Godly thoughts and orientation, my prayer life will be filled with God’s will and God’s answers.
Do something.
“Father, I so desperately want Your heart and mind to be my heart and mind. May I know You so well, that I ask what’s totally aligned with You and will be answered. Amen.”
May 20 – Meditating on God’s Word
John 15:8, This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
Write out the Scripture.
“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”
Observe what it is saying.
Bearing spiritual fruit isn’t so others will praise us. Christ works within us to bear His character so that we’ll talk and act just like Him. As we do so, we show the world that we belong to Him and bring much glory to the Father in heaven.
Relate it to your life.
Everything about me is to bear the wonderful tasting fruit of the Holy Spirit so that others can see I belong to Jesus all to the glory of God.
Do something.
“Jesus, shine through me all to the glory of God. Amen.”