Daily Encouragement Day 239 – John 15

As Jesus leads His disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane, He relates the allegory of the vine and the branches to teach them about their need to abide in Him for their spiritual sustenance.  It is only as they abide in Him that they will be empowered to bear abiding fruit, and it is this fruit that demonstrates their discipleship.  Once again, Jesus commands them to love one another just as He loved them, and He emphasizes that it is not they who chose Him, but He who chose them.  Because of their identification with Him, Jesus warns His disciples that the world will persecute them as it persecuted Him.

READING of JOHN 15

Prayer:

Lord, You are the vinedresser, Jesus is the true vine, and I am a branch that desires to receive Christ’s life by abiding in Him.  May I abide in Your love, keep Your commandments, and love others as You have loved me.

Meditation passage for today: verses 1-17