Empty Branches




I want to learn more Scripture, to "hide it in my heart". I hope to learn John 15 (Vine and Branches) verse by verse. Each week I will add another verse, building the thoughts and teachings of this wonderful chapter.

Each Wednesday, I will "recite" what we have learned on my blog post. If you wish to join me in this challenge of learning this chapter verse by verse, you can either email your "recitation" or post it as a comment.

Memorizing anything takes persistance. Read the verse everyday. Think about it. Write it down. Post it on a card, in a place that you look at often (the frig, bathroom mirror, etc.)Review previous verses often.

(Let me know if you are using something besides the King James Version.)


(without looking at the Bible recitation)
John 15:1
"I am the true vine and my Father is the husbandman."

(That was easy...this time. I know I will make mistakes as I go along, but as I review them over and over, they will be buried deep into my thoughts and mind.)





~ NEW VERSE ~
John 15:2
"Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away; and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit."


First, we have to recognize again that Jesus is speaking about God the Father and His working. The branches are those that belong to Him, the saved, the redeemed.

But... there is a warning here. If a branch does not bear the fruit of God (love, joy, peace, longsuffering, etc.) he will take it away. If a child of God is a poor testimony, tearing down the name of Christianity, God will remove him. We can choose to submit to Him or resist Him and risk being taken away....not losing our salvation, but taken out of this world.

The next part, "every fruit that beareth fruit, he purgeth it", doesn't sound very pleasant either, but it is for our own good. When God sees growth, he takes the unneeded, extra, distracting things out of our life, so that we can focus on Him. His power will be poured into the things that He wants done in our lives. It may hurt to be purged, but it's because He loves us and wants the best from us.

Lord, help me to submit to Your working so that I may produce much fruit for You. Amen

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I know I need to memorize more Scripture. Thanks
for this, Vonnie. Sunny

Larie Carlice Proverbs 27:19 said...

Thank you for the invitation to John 15! Thank you for the devotion of verse 2 as well. And a big thank you for the morning song today! As I read it, I kinda cringed because I knew that I need to mean those words.

smooches,
Larie

Josh said...

Yvonne,

I will be studying and memorizing this section of scripture along with you. I will probably post something on my blog to go along with yours as we memorize together.

Julie Arduini said...

I need to do this. I really like the meaning behind the words. What's the use of memorizing if we don't know how to apply it?

I have a few different Bible versions, I'll see which one I'm to use and get back to you.

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