A Minute In It - Fruit and Love

A minute in God’s Word will change your life. Take a moment to read the text below and then answer the questions at the bottom of the post.

15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

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. 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.

9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other. John 15:1-17 (NIV)

What does it mean to abide in Jesus?
What can you do if you are not abiding in Jesus?
What is the fruit that Jesus wants you to grow?
What does love have to do with it?

Be A Roof

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 1 Corinthians 13:7 (ESV)

What does it mean to bear all things in love? The word bears in the Greek is στέγω (stego). It means to cover; to protect or keep by covering. Similar to a roof.

To be a roof for someone means to help someone bear up under things that are piling on. It means to bend yourself into a position that will help them withstand. Being a roof means that you will protect them and keep them safe in life.

How often in our lives are we called to be there for someone who needs an extra covering? How often do we say yes? Too often we are looking at our own situation and trying to figure out how to cover ourselves oblivious to the shelter someone else might need. We are unaware that just a little bending in their direction may get them to the place where they can withstand on their own.

Whose roof can you be today?
Is there someone that needs the shelter of your arms or your heart for a time?

It’s been my experience that when I offer that safe place, my own space grows brighter and stronger as well.

Whose roof will you be today?

Take Notice

By this time they were nearing Emmaus and the end of their journey. Jesus acted as if he were going on, but they begged him, “Stay the night with us, since it is getting late.” So he went home with them. Luke 24: 28-29 (NLT)

I do a Bible Study with twenty and thirty somethings. I absolutely love it because when you read through the Bible with them, they always pull something out of it that you didn’t notice and it becomes relevant for today. Recently, we talked about Luke 24 and this verse became the highlight.

The question that was raised was “What was the culture like back in Jesus day so that you meet someone on the street, start a conversation and then invite them back to your house to spend the night?” And then we started talking about our lives and what our culture was with strangers.

That led to the question “How can we as Christians change how we see and interact with strangers so that we are sharing Jesus love with them?”

We came up with a lot of ideas but the one thing that stood out was where we focus our gaze. So often we are looking at our phones or our next task so that we are so distracted we don’t even notice someone. We talked about our world and how there is so much pain and loneliness. We talked about what it would look like if when we walked down the street or walked into a store if we looked a person in the eyes and asked them (truly wanting to know) how they were doing?

What would the impact be if the people you came across each day felt noticed and valued? How would that change our world? How would it change us?

Something to ponder today as we move through another day; a day which is a gift given to us so we can in turn be a gift to others.

A Minute In It - Enduring Love

A minute in God’s Word will change your life. Take a moment to read the text below and then fill in the blanks with your personal story praising God for his enduring love in your life.

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods.
His faithful love endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords.
His faithful love endures forever.

4 Give thanks to him who alone does mighty miracles.
His faithful love endures forever.
5 Give thanks to him who made the heavens so skillfully.
His faithful love endures forever.
6 Give thanks to him who placed the earth among the waters.
His faithful love endures forever.
7 Give thanks to him who made the heavenly lights—
His faithful love endures forever.
8 the sun to rule the day,
His faithful love endures forever.
9 and the moon and stars to rule the night.
His faithful love endures forever.

10 Give thanks to him who killed the firstborn of Egypt.
His faithful love endures forever.
11 He brought Israel out of Egypt.
His faithful love endures forever.
12 He acted with a strong hand and powerful arm.
His faithful love endures forever.
13 Give thanks to him who parted the Red Sea.
His faithful love endures forever.
14 He led Israel safely through,
His faithful love endures forever.
15 but he hurled Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea.
His faithful love endures forever.
16 Give thanks to him who led his people through the wilderness.
His faithful love endures forever. Psalm 136:1-16 (NLT)

Give thanks to him who ___________________.
His faithful love endures forever.
He brought _______________________.
His faithful love endures forever.
He acted ____________________________
His faithful love endures forever.
 Give thanks to him who made _____________________.
His faithful love endures forever.
He led ____________________,
His faithful love endures forever.