John 15
Vine Time!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Wednesday, June 24.
How is your “vine time”?
That’s actually a really important question that will make sense to you after you read John 15:1-17. John 15:4-5 starts with Jesus saying to His followers, “Abide in me, and I in you.” Before I keep reading allow me to define “abide”: to remain; to connect to continually. It is an agricultural metaphor that Jesus is using to talk about relationship with Himself—those who answer the call to “follow Me” will abide in Jesus and He in them.
Let’s keep going with Jesus’ words, “As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
We live in a world that asks the question, “What have you produced today? What have you done for me lately?” We live in a culture of ever-increasing transient jobs and utilitarian relationships as people seek first their ambition and desired affluent lifestyle. Loyalty is eroding and with that character quality so are abiding, persevering relationships, even with God.
But that is not the way it is in the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is a relational kingdom and loyalty to Jesus Christ (abiding in the vine) is of the utmost concern. In fact, it is your highest and noblest pursuit! Even before bearing fruit…
Because good fruit can only come about from a healthy connection to a good Vine.
How is your connection to Jesus? Is it your priority?
Seize the moment and invest in your Vine time.
If you need any practical assistance or would like to receive a personal phone call, please dial the phone number below and someone from FBC will call you soon.