Verse of the Day 9-23-22

Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. John 15:4

After a person accepts Christ and is forgiven, he or she receives the gift of eternal life, which centers on a personal relationship with Christ and includes the power of the Holy Spirit to sustain and develop that relationship. Given that power, a Christian must then accept responsibility to stay spiritually connected to and dependent on Christ. The Greek word “meno” means to remain, continue or live. Just as the branch has life only as long as the vine’s life flows into it, so believers have true life only as long as Christ’s life flows into them through active and vital relationship with him. The conditions which keep us connected to Christ include:

1. Spending time reading and studying God’s Word so that his truth gets into our minds and hearts and continually serves as a guide for actions.
2. Maintaining a positive habit of prayer, which involves listening to Jesus and drawing strength from him.
3. Obeying his commands, which demonstrates true love for Christ and includes loving each other.
4. Keeping our lives spiritually clean by remaining in God’s Word, resisting temptation and following the Holy Spirit’s direction.

Today’s Bible Readings:

Isaiah 41:17-43:13, Ephesians 2, Psalm 67:1-7, Proverbs 23:29-35