Christianity Oasis Forum

[Lani]

John 15: 1-17
1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.


The psalmist wrote, “I say to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.’”
Psalm 16:2 (NRSV)




Recently I underwent knee-replacement surgery. Immediately afterward I made amazing progress. I was able to walk with help the next day and without any help in two days. The other patients were amazed. But my speedy recovery was due in large part of the fact that I had very little pain. I assumed my lack of pain was a result of my physical strength, so I stopped taking the prescribed pain medication. The day after I quit taking the medication, I had so much pain I felt like I had been run over by a truck. I learned then that it wasn’t my strength that had been allowing my progress as much as it was the pain medicine.

As I look back over my life, I realize that my relationship with God has been something like my recovery from that surgery. At times I have taken credit for some act of mercy, forgetting that God is the source of any goodness in me. The reality is that I have never done anything worthwhile – loved any person, preached any sermon, led any program – apart from the inspiration and power of God’s Holy Spirit. God has been the source of any and all acts of goodness in my life. In the worlds of Psalm 16, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.”


Prayer: Holy yet personal God, we give thanks that you honor us by working through us. Help us to see your hand of love in our lives, and help us to faithfully follow your lead. Amen.

Prayer Focus of Day: People recovering from surgery

Thought for the Day: What good does God want to do through me today?

Story shared by: R Ryley (NY)
Source: Upper Room Daily Devotional: 9/23/11