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. (Let me know if you see any mistakes that I miss.)
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.)
John 15: 1-5
I am the true vine and my Father is the husbandman.
Every branch in me that bringeth not fruit He taketh away, and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth, that it may bring forth more fruit.
Now are ye clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
Abide in me and I in you; as the branch cannot bear fruit exept it abide in the vine, no more can ye, exept ye abide in me.
I am the vine, and ye are the branches; if ye abide in my and I in you, the same bringeth forth much fruit, for without me ye can do nothing.
CORRECTIONS:
Ugh... too many!
vs.2 "beareth" "purgeth it",
vs.3 "ye are" "except"(sp),
vs.4 "of itself",
vs.5 "He that abideth in me and I in him"
NEW VERSE
If a man abide not in me,
he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered;
and men gather them, and cast them in the fire,
and they are burned.
This is a difficult verse to understand. I'm not sure what Jesus meant by the fire in this verse, but I do know that it DOESN'T mean eternal damnation in hell... unless the "branches" were never part of the vine to begin with. For once we belong to God, once we become part of Him, he will never leave us. We may rebel and disappoint Him, but we will always belong to Him. Just as our children may turn away from us, they are still our children and will always be.
We can lose our usefulness for the Lord. We can grieve the Lord so much, that He will take us out of the picture, so that His name will not be sullied by our actions. That is a scary thing.!
"It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of a living God."
God is our Father. He loves us. He will not let us sin without dealing with us. He will give us warnings and convictions and even chastisements, to turn us back to Him. If we fight against His dealings, He will eventually take us. What shame to stand before Him then!
Lord, please help us to listen to Your voice, to heed Your warnings and be sensitive to the pricking of our conscience. May we be able to stand before You, and hear You say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant." Amen
2 comments:
Did you sneak a peek into my journal? :)
smooches,
Larie
I'm behind but I'm on NIV.
Here is what I have from John 15:1-2.
1: "I am the true vine and my father is the gardner."
2: "He cuts off every branch in me that does not bear fruit. The branches that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful."
I'm close! In verse 2 I should have written "He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes..."
I messed myself up more on grammar than memorization. I was trying to remember is this a (.), an (,) or an (;) and I picked the wrong one. But I'm on this and I need to do this.
Thanks Vonnie!
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