Tag Archives: showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Apart From Me

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The Sacramental Life - Day 333 - John 15-5-8 - Apart From Me - Growing As Disciples

The Sacramental Life – Day 333 – John 15-5-8 – Apart From 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.  If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.  If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.  This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. John 15:5-8 (NIV)

Nothing

That is what I can do apart from you. What can you do apart from me? I can do nothing apart from you. It took you quite a while to come to that realization. You proudly protested and pointed to achievements you accomplished by yourself, without my help. Yes, I did. Let me ask you a few questions. I’m listening, ask away. What will your accomplishments, done without my help look like in light of eternity? Will they stand the test of time? Will they have value that will last forever? Forever is a very long time. No, I would say that it would be impossible for me to accomplish something of eternal significance without your help. The best trophies and highest accolades I have secured will amount to nothing, in light of eternity. Already in my short life my best trophies have quickly made their way to the dumpster. Most of my highest accolades are already mostly a distant and forgotten memory. It is very good that you have this understanding.

I have many more questions to ask you. You have my full attention. Will you be satisfied with living a life that accomplishes nothing of eternal value? Will you feel good about living a life that did not store up any treasure in heaven with me? One day, from heaven, wouldn’t you like to be able to look back over your life, with me, knowing that you remained vitally connected to me, so that you could bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name? Won’t you be exceedingly glad to know that there will be people in heaven because you allowed me to work in and through your life? Won’t you be filled with joy knowing that you stored up treasure in heaven with me? By treasure, do you mean people who have come to know and love and follow and serve you because you spoke to them through my life and ministry? That is exactly what I mean. I want nothing more than to live a life that is vitally connected to you. I want nothing more than to be powerfully used by you. I will rely on you to work in and though my life so I can bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. And so, you shall and that will be very good.

Lord, for years I lived a life that was self-sufficient and self-reliant. I pridefully relied on myself rather than on you. I lived separated and apart from you. What a dry and barren that life was. Now, I will remain vitally connected to you. Bear fruit through my life. Amen

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

The Sacramental Life – Day 333 – John 15-5-8 – Apart From Me – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

And It Will Be Given You

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 329 - John 15:7-8 - And It Will Be Given You - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 329 – John 15:7-8 – And It Will Be Given You – Growing As Disciples

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. John 15:7-8 (NIV)

Remain In Me

How have you been remaining in me? How have you been allowing my words to remain in you? It is my joy to remain in you. There is no place I would rather be than in your presence. There is nothing I would rather hear than your word speaking to me. Drawing near to you is not a duty for me. Meeting with you on a daily basis is not something on my o do list that I must check off before my day is over. I am like a thirsty soul crawling across a desert. You are like a desert oasis to me. You feed my hunger. You satisfy my thirst. You refresh my life. You fill me up when I am empty. I never tire of meeting with you. I want to know and love you with all my heart and mind and soul. I want to live and walk in an intimate relationship with you. I want to know your thoughts. I want to do your will. I want to pray prayers that you will hear and answer. I want to bear an abundance of fruit for your kingdom and your glory. In every way I want to live and demonstrate to the world that I am your disciple. These all sound like prayers of yours, is that right? Yes, these are prayers of mine, but they do not come from me. Where do these prayers come from then? These are prayers that you have given me to pray. Yes, I have.

Let’s talk about these prays of yours. Say them to me again. It is my prayer that I will remain in you and your words will remain in me. It is my prayer that I will love you with all my heart and soul and mind. It is my prayer that I will know you, your will, and your ways. It is my prayer that I will hear your voice as I meet with you in your word. It is my prayer that you will fill me up and refresh my life as I enter your presence. It is my prayer that I will live and walk in an intimate relationship with you. It is my prayer that you will guide me to pray prayers that you will hear and answer. It is my prayer that I will bear an abundance of fruit for your kingdom and glory. It is my prayer that the fruit that you bear through my life will demonstrate to the world that I am your disciple. Do you believe that I have given you all these prayers to pray? There is no doubt in my heart and mind that you have given me these prayers to pray. Do you believe that I will hear and answer all these prayers of yours? There is no doubt in my heart and mind that you will hear and answer every one of these prayers. Why is that? The prayers that you give me to pray you will most certainly hear and answer. Yes, I will.

Lord, I will remain in you and allow your words to remain in me. Help me to pray prayers that are according to your will and can be heard and answered. It is the desire of my heart to be a disciple that bears and abundance of fruit for the glory of God. Amen

Key Question…  What fruit has God been able to bear through your life as you have followed and served Him?

Living It Out…  Remain in Christ and allow His words to remain in you so your prayers will be answered as you bear fruit for God.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that your prayers will be answered and you will bear fruit for God’s glory as you remain in Christ.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how God has answered your prayers, helping you to bear fruit for Him.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you remain in Christ and His words remain in you so you can pray and bear fruit for God the Father’s glory.

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

Promises – Day 329 – John 15-7-8- And It Will Be Given You – 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