Jesus stated that the only way to connect with God is through Him. He is the true vine that provides spiritual life and nourishment, and the Father is the vinedresser who prunes and removes dead debris. Jesus also mentioned that even God’s followers who do not bear fruit will eventually be taken away. However, those who do bear fruit will be pruned by God to produce even more fruit. But what does bearing fruit mean? Some people believe that it means making disciples, but that is not the only way to bear fruit. Bearing fruit goes much deeper on a personal level! When the word of God is planted in our hearts, it grows and develops, eventually blossoming into something beautiful that others will see! And when the word of God shapes our character, we begin to exhibit love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). These qualities are the fruit of the Spirit, and we bear them when we establish and maintain a relationship with Jesus. God refines us along the way if we remain in Christ. But without Jesus, we can do nothing. Are you connected with Him? Are you bearing any fruit?

1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 

2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 

4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

5 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 

6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 

7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 

8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.”

~ John 15:1-8

Our Father who is in heaven. Hallowed be Your name. May Your kingdom come, and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Father, I desire to maintain a close relationship with You, understanding that Jesus is the One who cleanses and provides all spiritual nourishment. I am open to Your refining of my character, and humbly accept Your word into my heart! May You truly transform me from the inside out, and may Your people be mere vessels that bring all honor to You! You are the ultimate source of all sustenance, blessings, and joy!! May we stay connected with You through Jesus, and may our lives bear abundant fruit!!! Amen.

In John Chapter 9, Jesus healed a man who was born blind. This act was performed with a purpose – so that the man would receive his sight and the works of God would be revealed in him (John 9:1-12). Despite this notable miracle being performed openly, there were unbelieving Jews who refused to accept Jesus. Even the man’s parents were afraid of being put out of the synagogue and distanced themselves from the situation. Although the man later testified to what Jesus had done, many continued in unbelief, casting the man out from among them (John 9:13-34). Jesus explained that the purpose of healing this man’s blindness was to indicate that He provides mankind with the ability to be spiritually illuminated. Jesus came into this world to provide spiritual insight into the needs of our souls! With this wonderful blessing, comes great responsibility, as Jesus also warned that we must be careful in how we respond to His word.

35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, “Do you believe in the Son of God?”

36 He answered and said, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?”

37 And Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.”

38 Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Him.

39 And Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.”

40 Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, “Are we blind also?” 

41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.

~ John 9:35-41

Dear God, El Roi, I express my gratitude for the wonderful work that You have done in my life. I am thankful to Jesus for enlightening me about the spiritual realities that exist beyond our physical world. I was once blind, but now I can see the truth, because of Jesus. Thank You for Your divine word that provides me with guidance and inspiration to meditate upon. I pray for a pure heart, a clean conscience, and a clearer vision of the spiritual realm. I want to see the truth of Your word more clearly and look forward to seeing Jesus as He is (1 John 3:1-3). Please open my eyes, Lord. I long to see Jesus. Amen.

During a particular feast, some Jews went looking for Jesus and had many complaints about Him. Jesus explained that the teaching He shared had come from above and that whoever was willing to do God’s will would know whether the doctrine was from God, or if Jesus spoke on His own authority. With motive to kill him, they pretended to not be adversarial, but Jesus addressed their inconsistencies in applying the Law of Moses (John 7:10-23). Finally, he said, “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment” (John 7:24). This passage is often cited to support the idea that we have a right to judge people and that we should do so using the principles of God’s word. However, this is not (at all) what is happening in this passage! These unbelieving Jews had inaccurately assessed Jesus’ motives and had been very inconsistent in their application of Moses’ Law, especially concerning Jesus’ work. Therefore, when Jesus says to “not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment,” He means that we must accurately assess situations and not unnecessarily impugn other people’s motives. Let us prayerfully concern ourselves with accurate assessments of our interactions with others, while also seeking to apply the proper principles from God’s word, in a consistent manner.

20 The people answered and said, “You have a demon. Who is seeking to kill You?”

21 Jesus answered and said to them, “I did one work, and you all marvel. 

22 Moses therefore gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. 

23 If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the law of Moses should not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath?

24 Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”

~ John 7:20-24

Holy God, I understand that sometimes, with my limited wisdom, I may wrongly assess situations, even when I know the truth of Your word. Lord, I desire to fully comprehend the truth of Your word and make consistent and accurate applications of it! Please help me to reason Scripture properly and make reliable observations of other people’s actions and motives. Only you can see what lies within the hearts of individuals. I know that you want me to be perceptive, as you have cautioned me about identifying false teachers by the fruit they bear (Matthew 7:15-20). So, I ask you to open my eyes to gain accurate views of my surroundings and to grant me the wisdom and courage to make the right decisions that align with your will. Amen.

After Jesus miraculously fed 5,000 people with only five barley loaves and two small fish (John 6:1-14), many people came to see Him the next day. However, Jesus rebuked them for their motives in seeking Him. He explained that what He offers concerns spiritual sustenance, leading to spiritual life, rather than physical blessings that only provide for the physical side of life. Many refused to accept Jesus’ teaching that day, and in fact, many left Him (John 6:22-66). We can only imagine how sad that day was for Jesus. He turned to His apostles and asked if they too were going to leave. But Simon Peter answered, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68). In the past, some churches tried to attract people by offering free food, refreshments, and social functions. Nowadays, it’s common to see churches providing contemporary forms of entertainment and things that cater to the physical wants of people, such as rock/R&B music, Starbucks, and Dunkin’ Donuts. However, those who seek Jesus must have pure motives in seeking and accepting the spiritual blessings that He offers. If Jesus were to reveal our motives in following Him, would we turn away and stop walking with Him? Or would we joyfully accept Him (and His word) as the bread of life?

26 Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. 

27 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”

28 Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”

29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”

30 Therefore they said to Him, “What sign will You perform then, that we may see it and believe You? What work will You do? 

31 Our fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ”

32 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 

33 For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

34 Then they said to Him, “Lord, give us this bread always.”

35 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.“

~ John 6:26-35

Holy God in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Father, I have come to realize that Jesus has the ability and willingness to provide for both my physical and spiritual needs. Your words have revealed many truths that have touched me deeply, exposing even the thoughts and intentions of my heart (Hebrews 4:11-13). I acknowledge that some of the sayings in Your word are difficult to accept, but I trust that You only provide what is good for my soul, and I am willing to follow You even when it may be challenging. I am inspired by the example of the apostles who clung to your Son during the pivotal moments in His ministry and am aware that there will be similar pivotal moments in my walk with You. I pray for courage to choose the right course of action, always, abiding with You and Your Son. It is in Jesus’ name I pray, amen. 

John 3:16 is one of the most frequently quoted passages of the Bible. Many suppose that by simply believing in Jesus as the sacrificial Savior, one can inherit eternal life. However, it’s important to note that Jesus said whoever believes in him SHOULD NOT PERISH but have everlasting life. Even the demons believe in Jesus and tremble (James 2:19). Moreover, we must not ignore the context of this passage. Earlier in the same chapter, Jesus told Nicodemus that unless one is born again, they cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3:3). He further stated that unless one is born of water and the Spirit, they cannot enter the kingdom of God (John 3:5). And after speaking the words of verse 16, Jesus commends “he who does the truth” while coming to the light “that his deeds may be clearly seen.” Even believing in Jesus is “the work” of God (John 6:29), and Jesus would later commission His apostles to teach others “to observe all things” He commanded (Matthew 28:18-20). Therefore, we should come to Jesus, not only believing in Him as our necessary Savior, but also accepting Him as the Lord and Master of our life!

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 

17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

18 He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 

19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 

20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 

21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.

~ John 3:16-21

My prayer, Jehovah hear. I am striving to follow Your will, Lord, and I humbly ask You to guide me in putting to death my old self and accepting Your will for my rebirth (Romans 6:3-6; Acts 8:22-24). Just like the apostle Paul, who died daily (1 Corinthians 15:31), I promise to continue putting to death my earthly desires and passions (Galatians 2:20). Please help me to fully understand the spiritual realities and forces that exist in the unseen, just like Nicodemus! I commit to making You the Master of my life, and I come to You with an open heart. Please protect and lead me in all your ways. It is in Jesus I pray, amen. 

Immediately before Nadab and Abihu’s death, their father (Aaron) was “careful to do as the Lord had commanded Moses” and did things “according to the prescribed manner” (Leviticus 9:10, 16). Their disobedience towards God’s instructions about sacrifices shows that God punished them FOR DOING WHAT HE HAD NOT COMMANDED, which is AS BAD AS DOING WHAT HE HAD SPECIFICALLY FORBIDDEN! This passage highlights the importance of carefully following God’s commands and the consequences of neglecting them. Although God didn’t continue to strike priests dead every time they disobeyed, this sin occurred right after the consecration and at the beginning of their work. If God had not made His point clear at this stage, then the negligence would have spread rapidly. There is no doubt that God had the right to punish those disobedient priests and destroy them.

1 Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them.

2 So fire went out from the Lord and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. 

3 And Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord spoke, saying: ‘By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; And before all the people I must be glorified.’” So Aaron held his peace.

~ Leviticus 10:1-3

Holy God. You are my Rock. The God of my salvation. May I learn from the lesson of Nadab and Abihu and always approach You with reverence and holiness, especially during worship. Please grant me wisdom to understand Your commands, examples, and inferences as they are revealed in Your word. I never want to offer service to You in a presumptuous manner or go beyond what is written. I am grateful for Your word and the blessings that come with abiding in You, but I am also aware of the great responsibility that comes with it. Please help me to maintain a sober and focused mind in these things. I also ask that You help me communicate these needs to my neighbors so that together we can honor and glorify You acceptably. In Jesus’ name I pray these things, amen.

Among children, I find it easy to humble myself due to their innocence and purity. It is humbling to perceive these traits within them, as I know that these same traits within myself have been tainted through years of sinful conduct. Older people are also easy to humble myself before, as they have lived a long life and have a wealth of experience and wisdom to share. However, the real challenge when it comes to humility is being around our peers, those who are our contemporaries. We tend to compare our own experiences and ways of thinking and doing things with theirs, and this can be a dangerous thing. Our egos must be held in check because the Lord does not want us to compete with our peers to achieve a greater position over them.

24 Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest. 

25 And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ 

26 But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. 

27 For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.

28 But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. 

29 And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, 

30 that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

~ Luke 22:24-20

Holy God and Father in heaven. Thank You for the lessons gleaned from Your holy word concerning pride and humility. The Apostles argued about who among them was the greatest. You reminded them that the desire for greatness is common among worldly leaders, but that is not the behavior You expect from Your servants. I desire to emulate Your Son and serve others with a humble spirit. Please help me cultivate a servant’s heart! I am grateful for the progress I have made in my journey with You so far and ask for Your continued blessings. May I be content with what You provide in my life and remain closely connected to You through your Son, Jesus. May that connection be the driving force in how I conduct myself among others! Amen.