August 7, 2018
BIBLE MEDITATION:
Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing. John 15:4-5
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
I’ll tell you one thing about fruit. You will never see a fruit factory. Now, you’ll see factories for making clothing, cars, and computers, but not a fruit factory. Instead, fruit is grown in an orchard. You see, there is no fruit without life. “The fruit of the Spirit is patience,” Galatians 5:22 says. You cannot manufacture patience. A few verses later it adds, “If we live in the Spirit, let’s walk in the Spirit.” The only way fruit is going to ripen and grow is in the right climate and with the right nutrients.
Just like we can’t grow bananas in Alaska, we can’t grow and produce the fruit of the Spirit unless we’re in the place where the Spirit can produce His fruit in us. And that place is walking and abiding in the Spirit.
ACTION POINT:
Read Galatians 5:22-25 today. You’ll never have patience until you abide in the Spirit. Even then, you don’t produce that fruit; you bear it. Jesus said, “You abide in Me, that My Word abide in you.” Then you’ll be fruitful.
I try to unplug each morning with Jesus with just my rocking chair, my Bible, and a pen.
Having a secret place is very important because I know that Jesus is always there waiting for me. I know where I can find Him! His presence is everywhere, but there are places where it is so thick you can cut it with a knife. You may not even have a front porch, but there is a secret place for you as well. God’s invitations are for anyone who will respond. There is no more important request than the one found in Psalm 27:8: “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’”