40 Days in the Book of JOHN
Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days in the Book of JOHN
Day 31 | THE VINE AND THE BRANCHES | John 15:1, 5, 7-8
40 Days in the Book of JOHN
Day 31 | THE VINE AND THE BRANCHES | John 15:1, 5, 7-8
THE VINE AND THE BRANCHES
John 15:1, 5, 7 - 8
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.”
“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.”
“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.”
Jesus is talking to his disciples using terms that would be very meaningful in that time and place.
Picture a grapevine. Picture Jesus being the VINE and Father God the vinedresser. Then WE are the branches that bear the fruit.
It’s clear that branches need a vine to be alive and bear fruit. It’s also well known that some branches need to be pruned (cut or trimmed) to remove the dead parts so that they can bear more and healthier fruit. These verses also teach that we are designed to bear MUCH fruit – thus proving we are Jesus’ disciples (aka followers).
Fruit-bearing is inevitable with abiding. Galatians 5 teaches about the “fruit of the spirit” – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control – which is what can be expected from a good “branch.”
But additionally, we are promised answered prayer “If you abide in me and my words abide in you.” Many grab this promise as a “name it-claim it” verse, but it is not. YES, our God does answer prayer, but it starts with an “IF” and abiding in the Lord and HIS WORDS in us takes focus, time, and acceptance of HIS authority in our lives and submission to Him. “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) should then become as common for us as it was for Jesus, who was always talking to His Father. THEN it becomes safe for the LORD to say to the sanctified soul, “ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
Prayer: LORD, lead me to the place where I live in such harmony with You that I am bearing much fruit for Your honor and glory. Amen.
John 15:1, 5, 7 - 8
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.”
“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.”
“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.”
Jesus is talking to his disciples using terms that would be very meaningful in that time and place.
Picture a grapevine. Picture Jesus being the VINE and Father God the vinedresser. Then WE are the branches that bear the fruit.
It’s clear that branches need a vine to be alive and bear fruit. It’s also well known that some branches need to be pruned (cut or trimmed) to remove the dead parts so that they can bear more and healthier fruit. These verses also teach that we are designed to bear MUCH fruit – thus proving we are Jesus’ disciples (aka followers).
Fruit-bearing is inevitable with abiding. Galatians 5 teaches about the “fruit of the spirit” – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control – which is what can be expected from a good “branch.”
But additionally, we are promised answered prayer “If you abide in me and my words abide in you.” Many grab this promise as a “name it-claim it” verse, but it is not. YES, our God does answer prayer, but it starts with an “IF” and abiding in the Lord and HIS WORDS in us takes focus, time, and acceptance of HIS authority in our lives and submission to Him. “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) should then become as common for us as it was for Jesus, who was always talking to His Father. THEN it becomes safe for the LORD to say to the sanctified soul, “ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
Prayer: LORD, lead me to the place where I live in such harmony with You that I am bearing much fruit for Your honor and glory. Amen.
Recent
Categories
Archive
2026
February
40 Days with Jesus - 0140 Days with Jesus - 0240 Days with Jesus - 0340 Days with Jesus - 0440 Days with Jesus - 0540 Days with Jesus - 0640 Days with Jesus - 0740 Days with Jesus - 0840 Days with Jesus - 0940 Days with Jesus - 1040 Days with Jesus - 1140 Days with Jesus - 1240 Days with Jesus - 1340 Days with Jesus - 1440 Days with Jesus - 1540 Days with Jesus - 1640 Days with Jesus - 1740 Days with Jesus - 1840 Days with Jesus - 1940 Days with Jesus - 20
2025
January
40 DAYS OF NEW - 0340 DAYS OF NEW - 0440 DAYS OF NEW - 0540 DAYS OF NEW - 0640 DAYS OF NEW - 0740 DAYS OF NEW - 0840 DAYS OF NEW - 0940 DAYS OF NEW - 1040 DAYS OF NEW - 1140 DAYS OF NEW - 1240 DAYS OF NEW - 1340 DAYS OF NEW - 1440 DAYS OF NEW - 1540 DAYS OF NEW - 1640 DAYS OF NEW - 1740 DAYS OF NEW - 1840 DAYS OF NEW - 1940 DAYS OF NEW - 2040 DAYS OF NEW - 2140 DAYS OF NEW - 2240 DAYS OF NEW - 2340 DAYS OF NEW - 2440 DAYS OF NEW - 25
February
40 DAYS OF NEW - 2640 DAYS OF NEW - 2740 DAYS OF NEW - 2840 DAYS OF NEW - 2940 DAYS OF NEW - 3040 DAYS OF NEW - 3140 DAYS OF NEW - 3240 DAYS OF NEW - 3340 DAYS OF NEW - 3440 DAYS OF NEW - 3540 DAYS OF NEW - 3640 DAYS OF NEW - 3740 DAYS OF NEW - 3840 DAYS OF NEW - 3940 DAYS OF NEW - 4040 DAYS OF PROMISE - 0140 DAYS OF PROMISE - 0240 DAYS OF PROMISE - 0340 DAYS OF PROMISE - 0440 DAYS OF PROMISE - 05
March
40 DAYS OF PROMISE - 0640 DAYS OF PROMISE - 0740 DAYS OF PROMISE - 0840 DAYS OF PROMISE - 0940 DAYS OF PROMISE - 1040 DAYS OF PROMISE - 1140 DAYS OF PROMISE - 1240 DAYS OF PROMISE - 1340 DAYS OF PROMISE - 1440 DAYS OF PROMISE - 1540 DAYS OF PROMISE - 1640 DAYS OF PROMISE - 1740 DAYS OF PROMISE - 1840 DAYS OF PROMISE - 1940 DAYS OF PROMISE - 2040 DAYS OF PROMISE - 2140 DAYS OF PROMISE - 2240 DAYS OF PROMISE - 2340 DAYS OF PROMISE - 2440 DAYS OF PROMISE - 2540 DAYS OF PROMISE - 26