Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Character – John 15:5 – Remains In Me – Growing As Disciples
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5 (NIV)
Well Done
My life has not been particularly fruitful. That sounds like a dramatic understatement to me. The truth is, my life has been like a barren wasteland. I have worked extremely hard and accomplished very little. Oh sure, I can point to achievements that the world might recognize and applaud. But, at the end of the day, at the end of my life, what will stand the test of time and last for all eternity? That is a very good question. Many go through their entire life without asking any questions like that. You want your life to have mattered. You want your life to have made a mark. You want to be able to look back over your life and see that it was well spent. Most of all, you want to hear me say, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” Have I heard you correctly? Is all that I have said about you true? Yes, I want my life to count. I want to make a mark. I want my life to have been well spent.
How will you know if your life counted, made its mark and was well spent? That may sound like a difficult and unanswerable question. It is an easy question for me to answer. Really, let me hear your answer. I will know if my life counted, made its mark and was well spent if I went and did your will. How will you know my will? How will you be able to go and do my will? Again, that is not a difficult question to answer. I will know your will if I have listened to you. To listen to you I must live in an intimate relationship with you. I must spend time in your presence. I quiet myself before you. I must wait for your instructions. I must receive your guidance. I also know that you will ask me to do what I cannot possibly do without your help. Why is that? You want me to live a life of relying on you. You want me to follow you to where you lead me. You want me to do what you ask of me. You want me to rely on your power and strength to help me to do what only you can do in and through me. As I go where you guide me and do what you ask of me, I know that I will be accomplishing your purposes and fulfilling your plans. That’s right. If I keep on loving, following and serving you, I will one day hear you say, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” Yes, you will.
Lord, I know that apart for you I can do nothing. My life has been an example of working hard and accomplishing nothing of eternal value. I want to be fruitful for you. Help me to remain in you so I will bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Amen
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Character – John 15-5 – Remains In Me – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide
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