Bible Verse of the Day Monday March 13th, 2023

John 15:4 Remain in me, as I also 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.

The Bible, in its totality, is the spoken Word of God; however, in some memorable incidents in the New Testament, we have direct quotes from the Lord Jesus Himself. This verse is one such example of words spoken by Jesus to the disciples and all people down through the ages that believe in Him. From this directive to His followers and believers, Jesus would leave their physical midst in a short time. However, he wanted to ensure that the spiritual connection between Himself and His followers would outlive time as we know it. Consequently, Jesus used an illustration familiar to all people, a vine and its branches. In this illustration, Jesus identifies Himself as the vine and His followers and believers as the branches.

Knowing that most people in Israel would reject Him and close their eyes and hearts to the truth that He was the true promised Messiah, He wanted His followers to understand that it was Him, not the nation of Israel, that was the true vine. Jesus wanted His followers in that day to know that all people, Jew, and Gentile alike, would become the branches that, when attached to the true vine, would become the Church. This glorious event had its inception on the Day of Pentecost.

When he told His followers and believers to remain in Him, that means to place all of our faith and trust in Him, believing in the truth of His Holy Word. To cling to Jesus is an unwavering and steadfast certainty that every promise He makes in His Holy Word is solid and the vine to which His followers, the branches, are attached. It is beyond any human imagination, but God's Love for His Children mirrors the Father's Love for the Son. This concept is difficult to comprehend even for the saved, born-again followers and believers in Christ. However, the truth is that the depth of love the Father has for the Son is the same profundity of love He holds for His us, as His children.

To remain in Christ Jesus is to rest in His great love and be assured that we can accomplish nothing without Him and perform on the truth of that concept. As His followers and believers, we become closer and closer to Him as each day passes. Moreover allowing the leading and guiding of His Holy Spirit to be our roadmap, we will daily grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus. 

As followers and believers in Christ Jesus, we should surrender our lives, spirit, mind, body, and souls to Him and His mission of spreading the Gospel to the world. When this happens, peace will come over our lives that we cannot describe with human utterances. Then one day, we will hear, "well done, my good and faithful servant."