John 15:4-9
March 11, 2026
John 15:4-9
CONFESS
Our Father in Heaven, we have professed to serve you while replacing you with other things. We have loved physical things more than your gift of grace. We have prized the acceptance of people more than your glory. We have sought satisfaction in the creation while forgetting you, our Creator. We have desired comfort, pleasure, and control more than we have desired relationship with you. Forgive us for the sake of your Son, Jesus. Amen.
READ & REFLECT
John 15:4-9
4Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.
Our task is to abide in Jesus. He is the nutrient we need in order to bear fruit for God. There is no life apart from him. But how do we “stay put” in Jesus? We remain in Jesus by soaking in his word. For starters, that means that we need to be part of a community of people who remind us of the gospel and help us apply it to every aspect of our daily lives. It also means that we need to saturate ourselves in Jesus’ word through our own worship, prayer, Scripture reading, and reflection. How do you know if you are abiding in Jesus? You will know by the fruit. If you stay put in Jesus, the fruit is inevitable. So what evidence do you see of God working in your life today?
How can you soak in the gospel today?
PRAY
Weekly Collect
Heavenly Father, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you: Look with compassion upon the heartfelt desires of your servants, and purify our disordered affections, that we may behold your eternal glory in the face of Christ Jesus; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.