Tag Archives: apart from me you can do nothing

The Vine

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Life In Christ- John 15:5 - The Vine - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Life In Christ- John 15:5 – The Vine – 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)

Vitally Connected

I know what it is like to be disconnected from you. How so? I have a lot of experience living a life that is not vitally connected to you. Tell me about your experience. I have run myself ragged trying to accomplish great things. I have come up with some really good ideas. Who says? Me. What has been the outcome of your really good ideas? Not much. I have worked myself weary trying to do something that would accomplish something great. In the face of defeats and setbacks I have just run faster and worked harder. It sounds like you have really wanted to make a name for yourself. Yes, I suppose so. You suppose so? Well, I know so. That’s more like it. That’s not good. I know.

I will tell you a little secret. What’s that? I think some of your ideas have been really good. You do? Yes, I do. Why is that? Why do you think? I’m guessing that some of my really good ideas have come from you. That’s close. Maybe, I should have said all of my really good ideas have come from you. Why is that? Everything I have, everything I am and everything I will be that is any good has come from you. That’s true. That’s a good realization on your part. How will keeping that thought forefront in your mind help you? I humbly give thanks to you for all that you have given to me. That’s good. You will never suffer by having more humility. I agree. That’s also good.

I do have a question. Go ahead, I’m listening. Why have I not been successful implementing good ideas that have come from you? You tell me. I thought you would say that. You do know the answer. Yes, I do. I have gotten a good idea and raced off to implement them. I have not considered your timing. I have not relied on you. I have not remained vitally connected to you. I have not asked for your help. I have come to a realization. What’s that? Apart from you I can do nothing. Apart from you I can’t accomplish your purposes or fulfill your plans. A good idea, even one that comes from you, will never bear fruit unless I remain vitally connected to you. That’s true. I need your help to be able to know and do your will. I need your power and strength to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Yes, you do. Will you remain vitally connected to me? Will you rely on me for all that you need? Will you ask for my help? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good. 

Lord, I don’t want to get caught up in the busyness of life. I don’t want to fruitlessly chase after what is unimportant. I want to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name by being vitally connected to you. I will remain in you as you remain in me. Amen 

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Life In Christ – John 15-5 – The Vine – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Remains In Me

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Character - John 15:5 - Remains In Me - Growing As Disciples

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

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional study guide click here:

Character – John 15-5 – Remains In Me – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com