Read (from the New Living Translation)

¹“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. ² He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. ³ You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. ⁴ Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

⁵ “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. ⁷ But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! ⁸ When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.

John 15:1-8

Go Deep

Aaron Shust explains the practical – and absolutely crucial – ways he stays peaceful even on the hardest days.

Notes from the Beyond Suffering Bible

Our Source for the Christian Life – Jesus’ final self-identifying “I am” statement gives us the secret to the Christian life. As a grape branch must remain attached to the grapevine, we must “remain in” Jesus (15:4). Jesus is not discussing salvation here, but rather the fruit of salvation. Remaining in Jesus involves getting into his Word (15:7), and it always results in bearing the kind of fruit that Jesus produces in his people (Gal 5:22-23). No matter our circumstances, only by remaining in Christ will we be successful and produce the fruit of God.

Don’t miss out! This is only one of a 25-Day series called Beyond Suffering: Where Struggles Feel Endless, God’s Hope is Infinite. Sign up to get stories like this sent to your inbox each day.

Join Today and Start My Journey to Hope!