"Continue in His Love"

Each Wednesday, I am posting another verse of John 15 (Vine and Branches). I will "recite" what we have learned so far. 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. (Let me know if you see any mistakes that I miss.)


John 15:1-8
(without looking at my Bible)
1. I am the true vine and my Father is the husbandman.
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.
3.Now ye are clean through the word
which I have spoken unto you.
4.Abide in me and I in you; as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself,
except it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5. I am the vine and ye are the branches;
if a man abide in me and I in him,
the same bringeth forth much fruit,
for without me, ye can do nothing.
6. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth and withered,
and men gather them and cast them into the fire,
and they are burned.
7. If a man abide in me and I in him,
he shall ask what he will,and it shall be done unto him.
8. Herein is my Father gloried, that ye bring forth much fruit,
so shall ye be my disciples.

CORRECTIONS
vs.5 (He that abideth..) vs.6 (as a branch..)
vs.7 (my word...) vs.8 (ye bear much fruit...)



~ NEW VERSE ~

John 15:9
"As the Father hath loved me,
so have I loved you;
continue ye in my love."


We will never understand the fullness of God's love.

This verse says that just as the Father loved the Son, we are also loved. We don't deserve be loved. He is so holy and infinitely greater than us! Why should care about puny little men?
Yet, he wants us to be part of Him and He with us.

The phrase "continue in my love" is so calm and so tender. His love is constant and unconditional. We can't even get away from it. No matter what we say or do, His love is always there.

Romans 8:38,39
"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, no things present, nor things to come, nor height, not depth , nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

There may be times when we don't appreciate that love, and rebel against it, but it is still there. Do you still love your child, even when he is angry and disobedient? Of course! So much more, does God love us. He hates the sin, but He loves us.

We "continue" in His love when we are abiding in Him, when are living in fellowship with him, when we are resting in His sovereign will for our life. It isn't a matter of doing, but yielding.

Notice the words of this song:

I am not worthy the least of His favor,
But "in the Beloved" I stand;
Now I'm an heir with my wonderful Saviour,
And all things are mine at His hand.

I am not worthy!
This dull tongue repeats it.
I am not worthy!
This heart gladly beats it.
Jesus left Heaven to die in my place.
What mercy, what love, and what grace!

Dear Lord, teach us to "continue in You", to feel Your presence in our lives, filled with Your love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. Amen.





* "I Am Not Worthy" by Beatrice Bush Bixler
(This is a sample of my MORNING SONG. If you wish to receive a song each day, contact me.)