John 15: 1-17

Empowered By God’s Grace

John 15:1 Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.”

John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches.”

John 15:9 “As the Father has loved me, so I loved you. Now remain in my love”

John 15:10 “If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in His love.”

John 15:17 “This is my command: Love each other.”

1 Corinthians 13:13 “And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

We have heard that once we hit bottom the only place to look is up. Perhaps this is a somewhat non-biblical way of pointing people to the Lord. It suggests that when all else fails and there is no hope left, one might as well go for the last resort and look to God. In many ways this seems like such a backward approach, but for some, it may be the only way they can let God in.

This is pruning to the max! Created by God, we are an extension of Him. We truly are the branches. For some of us, being stripped of all we think is valuable to the point of breaking is the pruning we require to wake us up to God’s Love. It does not have to be this way, but for some, it is the only way. When we see others in this position, what do we do?  I hope we love them, pray for them with a deliberate heart, and are there for them no matter what. That is God’s command; “Love each other.” It does not say love others when they are nice to you, or when they give to you what you desire, He says; “Love each other.”

It is easy to love those who show us love and behave in a way that pleases us, but there are many others who need our love and the love of the Lord who do not appear to deserve it. As they are being pruned, they seem to want to take us down with them. We are to be strong, and LOVE THEM. We are empowered by God’s grace and it is by offering God’s Grace to others that we truly live.

Read/Listen to John 15:1-17