Week Four - Day One: End of Day

This morning we started talking about acquainting ourselves with God. We said that really acquainting ourselves with Him meant learning to love Him and learning to submit our lives to His will.

As we talk about this, we’ve got to remember that submitting to God is not burdensome. God is not the fun police. God’s intentions toward us are infinitely good and loving. This is what gives our obedience its passion and motivation. God is far more interested in our lives being abundant, joyful and fruitful than we are. And He is able to make that a reality. Let’s get some confirmation of that.

1. Read John 15:1-17. As you read, look for indications that God longs for us to be fruitful.

   (1) "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, and I will 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 a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (6) 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. (7) If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given 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 obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed 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, that he lay down his life for his 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 to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. (17) This is my command: Love each other.

   1. What is the prerequisite for leading a fruitful life?
   2. What can we do apart from Him? Really? Linger here for a moment. What does this mean?
   3. So, how do we remain in his love?
   4. Boil it all down. What does obeying him really mean?
2. Pray. Ask God to show you the fruit that your life is bearing.
3. Lights out!