Daily Devotional

"Abide in Me," said the Vine to His branches, "That is all I ask of you. Take the nourishment you require to grow, and absorb the living waters so that you can be fruitful."

We are children of God. In the physical realm, a child is dependent on his parents for growth. So, too, should the spiritual children of God depend on their Creator. Children realize the following benefits when they abide with their parents:

1. They are totally dependent on their parents. As branches abiding in a vine, you HAVE TO BE totally dependent on the Vine for growth. Just as parents do all the hard work to support their children, so too does the Vine do the work, and the branch just receives.

2. Children find rest in their parents home. There is a time to receive sustenance, a time to do chores in the house, but also a time to rest. A branch just lies there, transporting nutrients. That's all it does. It is the Vines responsibility to spread its roots, and find the water and nutrients. The branch just sits back and rests until those nutrients come in.

3. Children ESTABLISH A BOND with their parents. Abiding in the Vine means having close fellowship with the Lord Jesus and your Vinedresser.

4. A new-born babe CAN DO NOTHING without his parents. When he needs food he cries. When he needs to be changed he cries. As branches, understand that you can do nothing without the Vine. Once you are removed from the Vine you die. And Jesus confirms this, "Without me ye can do nothing." If you want to bear fruit you need to surrender yourself to Christ. Your life must be completely surrendered to God.