Monday, February 23, 2009

John 15:1-5

Hi, Girls! It's almost Spring, and I am so ready! Time to start on the garden. Have you ever noticed how many times in the Bible the Lord refers to us in some way as plants? Sometimes Jesus referred to Himself as a vine. Sometimes we are referred to as fig trees. And like trees, we are to bring forth fruit. In Psalms, a good wife is likened to a fruitful vine, and her children to olive plants. (Psalm 128:3)

I feel the need to get back to memorizing scripture, and thought you might like to join me. So, in keeping with my favorite time of year, the time of planting, I'd like to start with some of the passages where the Lord spoke in terms of plants. He speaks to my inner farmer. :)

I'll post a passage each week that I'll be working on, and hopefully you will join me. If you have a favorite you'd like to share, post a comment, and I'll add it to the list.

For this week, we'll start with John 15:1-5, where Jesus is explaining that He is the vine and his people are branches on that vine. The Father (God) wants us to bear fruit, but we can't do it without Jesus. Have you ever cut a limb off a tree and seen it bear fruit all by itself? No way!

John 15:1-5
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.

Happy Memorizing!
PS - If there is something you do to help you memorize, let us know! Writing the verses out works best for me.