What Jesus Did! 'Finding Where We Belong' — John 15:1

Sunday, October 2, 2022

[Jesus continued,] "I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener."
— John 15:1 NLT

Key Thought

Jesus' statement is radical. The vine was a symbol of Israel. [1] Jesus is saying that he is the place God's people will find their life. We need to be attached to the true vine and take our spiritual sustenance from it - as followers of Jesus, our nourishment must come from him. [2] When people are in Christ, they will find themselves tended to and cared for by God himself. This concept is both radical and comforting. Jesus reminds us that God cares for the birds, [3] so he surely cares for us. The Father knows the number of hairs on our heads. [4] He knows what we need before we ask for it. [5] God is not a God far off, but a God up close and personal. He knows us and wants to be involved in every aspect of our lives.

[1] Psalm 80:8-11.
[2] John 15:5.
[3] Matthew 6:26.
[4] Matthew 10:30.
[5] Matthew 6:8.

Today's Prayer

Holy God, Lord Almighty, I am humbled and awed that in your incredible majesty you have also chosen to know me personally. Thank you for working in my life. Please conform me to your will. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

4 Related Resources by Heartlight

I AM: Stay Connected!
Article by Phil Ware
Are you a limb or a stick? Phil Ware continues his I AM series from the Gospel of John by talking about the vine and the branches and being fruitful by remaining or abiding or staying connected to Jesus.
The Master Gardener
Article by Sarah Stirman
What's growing in your personal flower beds? God is the master gardener and works in our lives to get rid of what is dead and overgrown.
Let's Stay Connected!
Devo: A Year with Jesus
"Dear Friend, Before I ascended to the Father, I promised My disciples that I would send the Spirit. I promised I would pour out the Spirit on people...."
Son of God with Power
Devo: A Year with Jesus
"Dear Friend, There are many voices that call out to you and seek to win your heart. There are many distractions in your busy and high-tech culture..."

Illustration

Illustration of John 15:1 NLT — [Jesus continued,] "I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener."

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Sunday, October 2, 2022

Daily Wisdom
A daily devotional featuring wise counsel found in Scripture.
Hebrews 13:5
"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.""
Morning & Evening
The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
Evening Thought: Deuteronomy 1:38
"God employs his people to encourage one another. He did not say to an angel, "Gabriel, my servant Joshua is about to lead my people into Canaan-go,..."
Passion for Praise
A daily passage of Scripture emphasizing praise to our God.
'With His Own Understanding' (Je. 10:12-13)
"God made the earth by his power, and he preserves it by his wisdom. With his own understanding he stretched out the heavens. When he speaks in the..."
Praying with Paul
Features the apostle Paul's writings turned into daily, powerful prayers.
'Risen with Christ' (He. 5:7-10)
"Dear Father, Eternal God, Thank you for a high priestly Savior, who in the days of his flesh, offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries....."

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

More What Jesus Did!