February 14th, Saturday: John chaps.15-16

Blessed Valentine's!

John 15

We read about His life.

A branch is only good for one thing – bearing fruit.

It may be weak in itself, but it has a living relationship with the vine and can be productive.

To abide in Christ means to be in communion with Him so that our lives please Him.

We know that we're abiding when the Father prunes us - cutting away the good so that we can produce the best.

We glorify God with fruit – more fruit and much fruit.

We'll learn about His love.

Abiding depends on obeying and obeying depends on loving.

Love and joy go together and make it easy for us to obey His will.

We should love Him, love His will and love one another.

And we'll learn about His name.

We enjoy the love of Christ and of the brethren.

But we must also endure the hatred of the world for His name's sake.

The more we're like Christ, the more the world's system will oppose us - you can count on it.

Depend on the Spirit's power and you'll be a fruitful, faithful Christian.

John 16

We'll learn about the world's opposition.

The Lord warned them about the opposition that would come, speaking to His disciples.

Don't be surprised when you are persecuted by religious people.

For this has been going on ever since Cain killed Abel.

The Spirit helps us witness to the world and glorify Christ before the world.

So depend on Him.

We'll learn about the world's joy.

When Jesus was arrested, crucified and buried, the world system rejoiced because their enemy was out of the way.

But you know what?

Today, He is alive!

And we have every reason to rejoice.

Now the Lord does not replace our sorrow with joy.

No, He transforms our sorrow into joy!

The same baby that gives the mother pain, also gives her joy.

The world's joy does not last, but the believer's joy is forever.

We'll learn about the world's defeat.

In the next few hours, the disciples would watch their world fall apart.

And yet Jesus assured them that He was the winner.

'I've overcomed the world' is a fact, not a promise.

And it applies to us today.

We are overcomers through Him.