For Reading and Meditation: &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;John 13:1-38
What other teacher has taken the Ten Commandments and had the right to add another commandment to them? But this is precisely what Jesus did, as we see from our text today. "A new command I give you," He said. "Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."
The Old Testament and other religious writings enjoined loving one another. What was new was this: "As I have loved you." Our Lord's conduct - "as I have loved you" - produced a new code for the human race. Paul, writing to the Philippians, catches the spirit of it when he says: "Treat one another with the same spirit as you experience in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5, Moffatt). Here morality reaches its high-water mark. From the moment Jesus uttered the words that are occupying our attention, there came into human life something more than a code - there came a Character. Now, therefore, our code is a Character - the Character of Jesus.
When someone asks me if I believe in the Ten Commandments I say: "Yes, and very much more besides. I believe in Jesus." The Ten Commandments are an injunction - and a God-given one. But Jesus is an injunction plus an inspiration. To follow an injunction is to obey an imposed morality, but to follow a Person and do the things He does is an inspired morality. One is legalism, the other love. One binds you, the other frees you. One makes you feel trammelled, the other relaxed and spontaneous. Our code is not a commandment but a Character. One greater than the commandments is here.
O Christ, Your law lays upon me an injunction, but Your life entering into my life inspires me to live up to that injunction. It is this that makes Your yoke so easy. I am deeply, deeply grateful. Amen.
<div class="tl-lightgrey mt20 pt20 flexbox-row-wrap jc-around">
<div>
<div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">AdditionalVerses</div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0px;">
<li>John 15:1-17</li>
<li>James 2:8</li>
<li>Matthew 7:12</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">Questions to Consider</div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0px;">
<li>What was the basis of Christ's love?</li>
<li>What is the basis of our being able to fulfill the Royal Law?</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>

Let a little light into your soul every day with this wonderful devotional from English pastor Selwyn Hughes.

Every Day Light with Selwyn Hughes

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you...

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. - John 15:5 ESV
NEVER forget that in the Lord is our righteousness and strength.
We are not sufficient to think rightly of ourselves, but through Him we can do all things. Never attempt anything without looking to Jesus for power. Let a knowledge and constant sense of weakness keep you near to Him; sensibly depending on Him; and ascribing all good unto Him.
You cannot, He can. You have destroyed yourself, in Him is your help found. It is only by union to Him, and receiving from Him, that you can glorify God, adorn your profession, enjoy your privileges, and obey the holy precepts of the gospel.
Never presume, but come up out of the wilderness leaning on Him, your beloved. Live as one deeply sensible of your dependence upon, and obligation to, the Lord Jesus. He is the strength of the poor, the strength of the needy in his distress, and your strength too.
Beloved, Jesus is your life-giving Head, the Fountain from which you are to draw all your supplies, and the Friend to whom you are to carry all your cares. He will work in you to will and to do of His own good pleasure.
Jesus, immutably the same! Thou true and living vine! Around Thy all-supporting stem My feeble arms I twine; Thou art my strength, my life, my hope, Nor can I sink with such a prop.

Written by James Smith for his own flock around 1840, but such was the demand that by 1846 over thirty thousand copies where in circulation.

The Believer's Daily Remembrancer

Apart From Me You Can Do Nothing - John 15:5

The Bible is full of paradoxes, that is, truths that seem contrary to what we would normally suppose or truths that seem to contradict one another. G. K. Chesterton maintained that paradox is truth standing on its head to attract attention. Here are a few of the paradoxes trying to attract our attention.We save our lives by losing them; we lose our lives by loving them (Mark 8:35).We are strong when we are weak (2 Corinthians 12:10), and powerless in our own strength (John 15:5).We find perfect freedom in being Christ's slave, and bondage when we are free from His yoke (Romans 6:17-20).We find more joy in sharing what we have than we do in getting more. Or, in the words of our Lord, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35).We increase what we have through scattering it, and experience poverty through hoarding it (Proverbs 11:24).We have a new nature that cannot sin (1 John 3:9), yet everything we do is stained by sin (1 John 1:8).We conquer by yielding (Genesis 32:24-28) and experience defeat by fighting (1 Peter 5:5 c).We are abased when we exalt ourselves, but He exalts us when we abase ourselves (Lu. 14:11).We are enlarged by pressure (Psalms 4:1 JND) and shrunk by prosperity (Jeremiah 48:11).We can possess all things, yet have nothing; we can be poor, yet make many rich (2 Corinthians 6:10).When we are wise (in man's view) then we are fools (in God's sight), but when we are fools for Christ's sake, then we are truly wise (1 Corinthians 1:20-21).The life of faith brings freedom from care and anxiety; the life of sight brings fear of loss through moths, rust and thieves (Matthew 6:19).The poet sees the Christian life as paradox from start to finish:How strange is the course that a person must steer,How perplexed is the path he must tread;The hope of his happiness rises from fear,And his life he receives from the dead.His fairest pretensions must wholly be waived,And his best resolutions be crossed;Nor can he expect to be perfectly savedTill he finds himself utterly lost.When all this is done, and his heart is assuredOf the total remission of sins;When his pardon is signed and his peace is procured,From that moment his conflict begins. (Selected).

With reverence, humor and skill, William MacDonald wove a daily devotional tapestry that challenges the reader to think deeply and Biblically, and apply God's Word to their lives.

Truths to Live By - One Day at a Time

"…as dying, and, behold, we live." (2 Corinthians 6:9)

Matthew 4:12-25In Matthew's gospel, the story of the first months of our Lord's public ministry is omitted. Several chapters of John's gospel come in between verses 11 and 12 of Matthew's fourth chapter. The mission of John the Baptist was to go before Christ and prepare His way. When he had done this, introducing Him to the people - John's work was really ended. But he continued to preach for some months, until he was arrested by Herod and cast into prison. Then it was that Jesus went into Galilee. Why He did this, we are not told. Some suppose it was to avoid John's fate - but this scarcely seems a sufficient reason. Indeed, in Galilee he would be nearer to Herod than in Jerusalem. Is it not more likely that it was just because John was now shut up in prison and his voice silenced, that Jesus went to Galilee? John had spoken of Jesus coming after him, and He came at once and began to speak.He dwelt in Capernaum. At that time Capernaum was an important city on the Sea of Galilee. Now nobody knows certainly what its site was. It was a city of wonderful privilege. For a long time Jesus made His home there. It was exalted in thus having the Son of God walk on its streets, speak His blessed words to its people, and do His works of mercy and love in its homes of suffering and sorrow. But in spite of all this honor and favor shown to Capernaum, Jesus was rejected there.Matthew tells us that it was in fulfillment of prophecy that Jesus went to Capernaum. He was needed there. It was a region of moral and spiritual darkness. It is such places that always draw Jesus. Human need in every form, appeals to His compassion. When men travel over the world - they usually visit regions in which they will see scenes of beauty, of grandeur, of wonder. But Jesus was in this world to do good, to save the lost, to change wildernesses into gardens of roses - and He went where there was the greatest need, the deepest darkness. Churches sometimes move away from sections of cities which have been emptied of prosperous homes and the attractions of fashion. Whatever may be said of the expediency of following the drift of population with our churches - we need to beware of abandoning decaying communities, of taking away from the people who remain the blessings of the gospel. Jesus did not go into Galilee as a tourist - but as a missionary. He was a teacher come from God to tell the people of the love of God for them. The same words were used of John the Baptist in describing His ministry. Yet there was a great difference in the two men and in their preaching. John spoke sternly and severely. He spoke of the fire, the fan, the ax of the punishment of sin. Jesus came with gentle and winning words.Yet His first call, like John's, was to repentance. All men need to repent. We never can reach the gates of heaven, unless we repent. The prodigal son had to rise and leave the far country, and walk back all the painful way to his father's house - before he could be restored to favor and be at home again. That is what every impenitent man must do. The first step in coming to Christ, is repentance .We must be sure that we know just what this word means. Some people imagine, that if they are sorry for doing wrong, that they have repented. But mere sorrow for a wrong way - does not take us out of that way. Tears of penitence will not blot out sin; we must turn about and walk in holy paths. Repentance is ceasing to make blots on the record, and beginning to live a fair, clean, white life.It was a familiar and homely scene which Jesus saw one day, as He was walking beside the sea. "He saw two brethren casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen." It is interesting to notice the kind of people Jesus sought for His disciples. He did not look for great and famous men. He did not go up to the temple and gather about Him rabbis and priests. He wanted men who were teachable, ready to listen to the truth and believe it, men who could be influenced by Him for good, whom He could train in the ways of His kingdom.Jesus is always looking for men who will become His disciples. He has a great work in hand, and needs and calls for helpers. He wants those who will believe His message. He does not take prejudiced men, men whose opinions are so obstinately held, that they will not listen to His words nor accept His teachings; he wants teachable men. He does not choose those who are wise in this world's wisdom, for they might not readily accept the wisdom of God which He teaches. Nor does He seek idlers. He goes among those who are busy in the duty of the day. He found a king for Israel, in a boy who was keeping sheep. He found a prophet to succeed Elijah, in a young man who was plowing in the filed. He found a missionary for India, in a humble shoemaker, busy at his bench, ready for the Divine call, unable ever to say "No" to God. If we would be chosen to take part in Christ's great work - we must seek to be ready for it, with heart warm, mind open to receive truth, and ready for any service to which God may call us.<div class="center-it mtb10">"Come, follow Me - and I will make you fishers of men." First of all, the disciple must go with Christ. This meant, in their case, leaving their business and attaching themselves to His household. It may not mean that to us - ordinarily we are to continue in the calling in which we are when we give ourselves to Him. But always it means joining ourselves to Him in heart and life. It means the complete surrendering of the mastership of our lives. No longer are we our own; we belong to Him. We are to go where He bids us to go - and do what He bids us to do. We are to think of His interests, not of our own. There can be no serving of Christ, no doing of His work, without first being with Him. "Without Me," he said, "you can do nothing" (John 15:5). But with Him, we are ready for any service, any duty, any work, and nothing is impossible to us.</div>First, they were to be with Him, and then He would make them fishers of men. They had been fishers of fish; they were to give up their old calling and take a higher one. The lessons of patience, quiet waiting and persistence, which they had learned in their daily and nightly work on the sea - would be of use to them in their new duties. They were to fish in the dark waters of sin for perishing men and save them, take them alive. Christ would teach them their new calling, "I will make you fishers of men." It was holy service to which He called them, and calls us. He does not want us to follow Him just for the joy of His salvation and the comfort of His friendship - He wants us to be His, that we may win others also to be His.Instantly these fishermen dropped their tackle and their nets, left everything, and went away with their new Master. They were not a moment in deciding. They loved Him, and they were most glad to go with Him. "At once they left their nets and followed Him." Sometimes the sneer is heard, "They had little to leave!" True, it was not much in money value. Yet these nets and this fishing business were all they had. It was by these, that they earned their living. Now at the call of their new Master - they gave up all, cut themselves off from the means of support, burnt their bridges behind them, and in simple obedience and faith went with Him.That is what we should do, when we hear the call of Christ. We should obey instantly, without questioning. No matter how great the sacrifice involved, we should make it cheerfully for His sake. Though to obey cuts us off from our ordinary means of livelihood and leaves us without provision even for tomorrow, we should not hesitate. Christ will take care of His servants when they are faithfully doing His will. "At once" is also an important phrase in the sentence. A great many people are forever postponing duties. When Christ calls, they say, "Yes, tomorrow ." But every call should be answered instantly. Get this "At once" into all your obedience.The charge never could be made against Jesus, that He thought only of men's spiritual needs and neglected their bodily needs. Continually we see Him doing good in common ways and helping people in their common needs. Here He is "teaching," "preaching," "healing ." He did not give good advice, exhort people to be true and honest, and then be indifferent to their sufferings. He fed them when they were hungry, opened the eyes of their blind, cured their sick children, healed their diseases. Always this is the law of Christ's ministry. He cares for our whole being. Every trouble of ours whatever, whether of body, mind, or soul - moves Him with compassion.It is a great comfort to us to know that our Lord is not indifferent to our diseases, that He would use them for our spiritual benefit, that He is ready to give us the grace we need - if we endure them patiently and submissively, and that He will heal us when His wise purpose in our affliction has been accomplished. Jesus is the great Healer - He is continually healing all manner of sickness and disease among the people. Wherever the Christian missionary goes, the hospital is set up alongside the chapel. In our church work we should think of men's bodies as well as of their souls - if we would wholly fulfill Christ's mission and purpose.This picture of Jesus ought also to be a great comfort to all those who are suffering. He is going about everywhere healing. Is He any less strong now, than He was then? Does he love us less now, than He loved the sick people in Galilee? Will He not heal us, too, in the way that is best? In the sick-room of every Christian, Jesus sits, to give cheer. The sufferer may know, as he prays for healing, that his prayer will be heard and answered. Sickness has a mission - it sets lessons for us to learn. It is very unfortunate if one who is sick recovers and is not better in heart and life afterward. We should pray that the sickness may fulfill its mission in us and for us, and then that we get well."And His fame went throughout all Syria." No wonder. Such blessed news could not be suppressed. When Jesus healed all the sick people in one town, it could not be otherwise than that the report would fly abroad, reaching other towns. It is not to be wondered at that everyone who had a sick friend, hearing about the great Healer, would then want to bring that friend at once to Him. Thousands of people poured out to find Him who had this marvelous power.Just so, whenever Jesus saves a sinner - the news should go out, and others who have unsaved friends should bring them at once to Him. We who know about Christ's power to heal and save - should go everywhere telling the news that those who are in their sins may be roused up to seek Him as their Savior.

A unique type of devotional from the writings of James Russell Miller, published between 1908 and 1913.

Devotional Hours Within the Bible

Matthew 4:12-25

The Beginning of the Galilean Ministry

John 15:1-12When Jesus says, "I am the true vine," He means that He is the source of the spiritual life of His people, who are compared to branches. What the vine is to its branches, Christ is to all who believe on Him. The branches, down to the smallest twigs, are dependent on the vine. So every believer is dependent on Christ. He is the source of the spiritual life of every Christian.A traveler in Kamchatka who spent many nights in the poor huts of the people, tells of His experience. The hut in which he was entertained was dirty, and the people were in every way repulsive. But their kindness was beautiful. They were most attentive to the traveler's needs. The best morsels were put upon His plate. The best bed was given to him. When bedtime came there was family prayer, closing with these words, "Lord, bless our home and bless and prosper our guest." There was something almost heavenly in the spirit of the home, which deeply impressed the visitor. He had found a branch of the true Vine. The life of Christ was flowing in it. There was a vital connection between these kinds of hearts in Kamchatka, and Christ.Wherever a real Christian life is found, there is a little branch of the great Vine. There is no other vine to which any soul can be joined and from which it can be nourished. Other religions may present their legends, their ceremonies, and their rules of conduct; but there is no life in any of them. The religion of Christ is more than a creed or a system of beliefs, more than a set of moral precepts. It has a great stream of heavenly life flowing from it. All the fullness of God is in it, and of this fullness - we all receive.Another truth suggested in this figure, is the dependence of the vine upon the branches. It is easy to see how the branches depend upon the vine - but the only way a vine can bear fruit - is on its branches. So the only way Christ can feed the world's hunger - is through His disciples. We ought to think of the responsibility of being a branch. The only way to be a good branch - is to be full of fruit, the same kind of fruit that Christ bore on His life.The culture of the plant is also important. Jesus says that the Father is the Gardener. The care of the branches is in His hands. It ought to be a great comfort to us, to know that our life's training and discipline are under the Father's care. If an ignorant, inexperienced, unskillful man were to enter a beautiful vineyard and begin cutting the vines, he would soon destroy them. He does not know what he ought to cut off. But if the man who comes to prune knows about vines, and has had experience and is skilled, though he may sometimes seem to be destroying a vine, yet we know that he is not making any mistakes and that His most severe and painful prunings are for the good of the vine. We have similar confidence when God seems to be dealing sorely or even harshly with us. The Gardener is our Father; He has all wisdom and love, and never gives us pain, nor cuts away any of our joys - except when such pruning is for our good.The Gardener does not trouble to prune the fruitless branches - but only cuts them off and casts them away. "He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit." All through the Bible uselessness meets God's disfavor and condemnation. The wicked are compared to the chaff which the wind drives away. Chaff is of no use; it feeds no hunger; it has no value and no beauty; it is fit only to be burned. The fruitless branch stands for the formal profession of religion. Merely nominal church members without spiritual life - are not of any benefit to the church. For a time the Gardener may be patient with them, waiting while He tried in all ways to bring them into real union with Himself, and to make the fruitful; but when due efforts have been made and there is still no fruitfulness, they are cut away.It is the fruitful branches, which the Gardener prunes and tends. The motive of His care - is that in this way these branches may become more fruitful. "Every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, so that it will be even more fruitful." The pruning process is a very important one. Dead twigs must be cut away. Sometime there is too much foliage. There is not life enough to nourish all the branches. Some of them, therefore, must be cut off, that what remains may receive full nourishment. There may then be less fruit for the present - but it will be better, richer fruit. The Gardener does not prune the unfruitful branches - pruning would do them no good. It is the Christian that the Father chastens and causes sometimes to suffer under sore discipline. Mere formal professors of religion are left alone, and often they grow very luxuriant, like unpruned vines. But in their luxuriance there is no spiritual fruit.Notice also that the object of the Father's pruning, is that the branch may be made to bear more fruit. It sometimes seems that the pruning is destructive. Great branches are cut off, and it seems as if the very life of the vine is endangered. But He who holds the knife, knows that what He is doing will make the vine in time more luxuriant and its fruit sweeter and more luscious. If only we would bear this in mind - when we find ourselves under God's chastening, it would help us to bear the pain in patience, and also to cooperate with God in His design to make us more fruitful. Earthly prosperity is often to a Christian like the excessive luxuriance of a vine, which the vine-dresser must cut away with his merciless hand, in order to save the vine's life.Jesus reminded His disciples that He had been acting as their Gardener and Caretaker. "Now you are clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you." For three years He had been teaching them, speaking to them words of correction, of counsel, of exhortation, and these words had trimmed off the faults, the evil habits, and the sinful things from their lives, leaving them now clean. The Word of God is the knife which is used in pruning the branches. This word, Paul says, is profitable for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. Every time we read the Bible as we should, thoughtfully, yielding our life to its sway - the knife cuts off some twig or branch which is marring our life or hindering its usefulness. We never should shrink from the impact of the Words of God - but should let them cut deep as they will into our life, exposing hidden faults, secret sins, and unlovely dispositions.Since the branches draw life from the vine, it is essential that their attachment shall always be complete. "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit itself, except in abides in the vine; no more can you, except you abide in me." We might as well try to grow plants without roots - as to have a Christian life without attachment to Christ. The kinds of fruits Christian lives should bear, are indicated by Paul as love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, and temperance. These fruits can grow only when the life of Christ is in the heart. A branch torn from a vine - at once withers and dies.Two trees grew in the same yard. One spring, when the time for leaves came, it was noticed that while one of the trees put forth its foliage as usual, the other stood dark and bare, with neither bud nor leaf nor any life. The same warm sunshine fell upon both, and the same spring rains watered the roots of both - but in one there was life, while in the other there was no life. There are men and women, too, who have spiritual privileges in home and church and Christian friendship - but who bear no fruit. It is because they are not really attached to Christ, not rooted in Him, and therefore they have no life in them.Many are the blessings of abiding in Christ. One is answer to prayer, "If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you." This promise is a great key with which we may open the door of the divine treasury and take from it whatever we need. But we must not overlook the condition - the twofold condition on which the promise depends. First, we must abide in Christ - in close, intimate union and communion with Him. Secondly, Christ's Words must abide in us. This means that His words must be received by us into our hearts, that we must love them, meditate upon the, allow them to rule our actions and words, to color our thoughts and feelings, and to inspire our dispositions. Only when these conditions are fulfilled, can we claim the promise.It is very important that we should clearly understand how we may abide in Christ. Jesus tells us plainly, "If you keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love." Jesus Himself, in His incarnation, was under the same law of obedience. He says, "Even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in His love." Nothing can take the place of obedience in Christian life. In absolutely no other way, can we abide in Jesus Christ's love.One of the great privileges of Christian life is friendship with Christ. Those who abide in Him and do His will - shall become His friends. "You are my friends - if you do whatever I command you." That is the way we are to show our love for Christ. It is not enough to say we love Him. That is well so far as it goes, and if we prove it by our deeds, it is all right.

John 15:1-12

The Vine and the Branches

Without Me, you can do nothing. (John 15:5)

The Cross simply says that an order, though it 
be religious, well-motivated, or good-intentioned, but nevertheless proceeding 
from man in his natural state (not necessarily in defiance of God or in 
conscious rebellion against Him, but just the expression of man's natural state 
as he is), the Cross says that this entire order is set aside. God has 
judicially judged it and put a ban upon it. In the Cross of the Lord Jesus God 
has said finally: 'You in your natural state cannot serve Me, and cannot bear 
any fruit to My glory! It is possible to go out and work, labor, and die of the 
strain of trying to serve Me and yet it still remains true that you cannot, out 
from yourself, by any natural resources whatever, bear fruit unto Me.' The only 
thing that can ever get through to God's end, and that can be in Life – eternal, 
Divine, heavenly Life – is that which proceeds from the Holy Spirit. 
 
How sweeping that is! How that analyzes and dissects everything! Of the things 
we say, for example, it continually presents the interrogation: 'Was that spoken 
in the Holy Spirit?' It is not enough to ask ourselves: 'Did I mean it well? Did 
I intend it for the Lord?' but: 'Was it said, was it done, in the Holy Spirit, 
or did I do it?' It is not a question of motive or of intention, but of 
the source from which we did it. We have daily to recognize that our lives must 
be subject to the Holy Spirit, and when we are aware that there has been 
something of our own will, we have to be faithful before God about it.

This devotional contains short daily portions from a selection of Mr. Austin-Sparks' messages. In his own words, “Perhaps this is just like a window opened into heaven. If you get the right window you can see quite a lot. You can see great things and you can see far things. But the best that I can hope is that this has just opened a window, and that as you look through it you are seeing one thing - how superior is Jesus Christ to all else, and how superior is the dispensation into which we have come, and how superior are all the resources at our disposal to all that ever was before!” Open Windows messages have been selected and compiled by Austin-Sparks.Net from the works of T. Austin-Sparks. In some cases they appear in abridged form. The introductory verse and its associated Bible version have been selected by the editor and did not always appear within the original message.

Open Windows

The Battle For Life - Chapter 3

 The Source Of Service 

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. (John 15:5 NLT)

I have not been the least of 
those who have striven, and agonized, and strained, and pressed and reached out 
for all that the Lord would have, all that is possible. It is possible to wear 
yourself right out, and kill yourself in a spiritual quest, and the Lord at last 
says to our hearts: "If you only know Me, things will happen; it will all 
come to pass without any of your strain, struggle and agony. I am going 
to bear this fruit. I will bear it through you by way of union and fellowship. 
Remember that the holy, blessed secret of fellowship is just resting in Me, 
abiding in Me."
If you saw all the branches of 
the vine every day groaning and agonizing, and writhing in order to bear their 
fruit, you would see something which is altogether unnatural. As a matter of 
fact you will see nothing of the kind. You will see them abiding there and 
bearing fruit. It is what we often speak of as the rest of faith. What is behind 
the rest of faith? It is not bringing yourself to a passive state, when you 
inwardly sink down and say, "I am just going to rest." It is knowing the Lord, 
God in Christ; for the way in which God has joined Himself to us is in 
Christ, not apart, and the way in which we have been joined to God is in Christ, 
not apart. The answer to every need is knowing Him in this way.

Knowing God in Christ - Chapter 1

 Knowing God in Christ 

I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. § I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. § [Be] strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. § The joy of the Lord is your strength. Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Let your hands be strong, you who have been hearing in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets.” § Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are fearful-hearted, “Be strong, do not fear!” § The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours.” If God is for us, who can be against us? § Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. § Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Daily Light on the Daily Path or Daily Light is a Christian daily devotional scripture reading published by Bagster & Sons about 1875. It has been reprinted continually since then. It consists of brief groupings of scripture passages which speak to prominent Biblical themes—two themes (morning and evening) for each day of the year. It appends no commentary, but simply allows scripture to speak for itself.

Morning Daily Light

 “Be strong … and work; for I am with  you,” says the Lord of hosts. 

When we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. § He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?In Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. § To will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. § To each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. § Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom.

 You were enriched in everything by Him. 

Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? Jesus … saw two brothers … casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, “Follow Me.” § Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. My speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit … He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. § We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God.

Evening Daily Light

 Things which are despised God has chosen. 

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. § The fruit of the Spirit is love. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. § Whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. § This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. § God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. § God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

 Keep yourselves in the love of God. 

<blockquote>
As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him" (<a id="verse_1632879782262455" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Colossians/2/6">Col. 2:6</a>).
</blockquote>One day we came to Him in utter need and reliance, and received life. Every day we are to abide in Him in utter need and reliance, that He may live that life in and through us. We are born again by faith, and we are to live anew by faith. "He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing" (<a id="verse_1632879782507104" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/John/15/5">John 15:5</a>)."There are earnest Christians who are jealous for a free Gospel, with acceptance of Christ, and justification by faith alone. But after this they think everything depends on their diligence and faithfulness. While they firmly grasp the truth, justified by faith,' they have hardly noticed the larger truth, the just shall live by faith.' They have not yet understood what a perfect Saviour the Lord Jesus is, and how He will each day do for the sinner just as much as He did the first day when they came to Him."They know not that the life of grace is always and only a life of faith, and that in the relationship to the Lord Jesus the one daily and unceasing duty of the disciple is to believe, because believing is the one channel through which Divine grace and strength can flow into the heart of man. The old nature of the believer remains evil and sinful to the last; it is only as he daily comes, all empty and helpless, to his Saviour to receive of His life and strength, that he can bring forth the fruits of righteousness to the glory of God." -A.M."Rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving" (<a id="verse_1632879782911322" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Colossians/2/7">Col. 2:7</a>).

A 365 day devotional that will help you in your Christian growth and walk with the Lord Jesus Christ.  This devotional is a collection of quotes from some of the best authors in the realm of Christian growth that has been organized by Miles J Stanford.  This devotional study is divided into 12 sections each containing 31 daily portions.

None but the Hungry Heart

 Abiding Faith 

<blockquote>
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" (<a id="verse_1632877929555419" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/John/15/4">John 15:4</a>).
</blockquote>A barren life means barren service, and no amount of self-effort will ever make up for that!"Not I, but Christ.' The Lord Jesus does not ask that we should work for Him, but He intends to work through us. There is all the difference in the world between the two. In the one I plan and then ask His blessing upon it; in the other He plans and lets me into the secret of His glorious purpose. The one ends in futility and disappointment; the other in life, progress, and joy."In the one I slave and work worthily for Him, and constantly feel the barrenness of a busy life; in the other I let His life flow through me in all His glorious effortlessness, and rest in the assurance that the Lord Jesus at work cannot fail. The one is a life of endeavor, always being keyed up to do something greater; the other is a life of faith always looking to the Lord Jesus to reveal the next step and then give the enablement to carry it out." -H.G."The great question is not what you are doing, how successful you are, how great are your crowds, how impressive your work - but the question is, by what power are you doing it? It is difficult to attend any large religious gathering without perceiving the governing influence, consciously or unconsciously, of the psychological - which is of the human. Many apparently successful revival' meetings have much more in them of psychology than Spirit. Large numbers of seekers are brought to the altar by human soul-power rather than by the power of the Holy Spirit. And this accounts for the large numbers of so-called backsliders and repeaters' at the altar.""Without Me ye can do nothing" (<a id="verse_1632877929334363" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/John/15/5">John 15:5</a>).

 Busily Barren 

<blockquote>
As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in Me" (John 15.4).
</blockquote>The old life is a dead branch, and cannot abide in the Lord Jesus. Our new life is one spirit with Him: a living branch abiding in the True Vine. As we learn to rest upon this fact of our position in Him, abiding becomes our restful attitude."The path through the desert must be rough, and it is well that it is so; for there is no right-minded person who would not rather be set in a rough than a slippery' way. The Lord sees our need of being exercised by roughness and hardness, not only that we may find the rest at the end sweeter, but also that we may be the more effectually trained and fitted for the place we are yet to occupy.""We are constantly ensnared by looking at secondary causes; we do not realize God in everything. Were we more alive to the fact that there is not an event which happened to us, from morning to night, in which the voice of our Father may not be heard, His hand seen, with what a blessed atmosphere would it surround us! Man and circumstances would then be received as so many agents and instruments in our Father's hand; so many ingredients in His cup for us. Thus would our minds be solemnized, our spirits calmed, our hearts subdued." -C.A.C."As a branch each believer is directly united to the True Vine, which receives all things needful through the care of the great Husbandman Himself. He will train and sustain every individual branch, the needs of each are upon His heart. The branch of the vine does not worry, and toil, and rush here to seek sunshine, and there to find rain. No, it rests in union and communion with the vine; and at the right time, and in the right way, is fruit found on it. Let us so abide in the Lord." -J.H.T."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" (<a id="verse_1632877973556253" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/John/15/5">John 15:5</a>).

 Branch Life 

5 我是葡萄树，你们是枝子。常在我里面的，我也常在他里面，这人就多结果子；因为离了我，你们就不能做什么。

我是葡萄树，你们是枝子。常在我里面的，我也常在他里面，这人就多结果子；因为离了我，你们就不能做什么。

约翰福音 15:5

 5 我是葡萄树，你们是枝子。常在我里面的，我也常在他里面，这人就多结果子；因为离了我，你们就不能做什么。

新标点和合本（英语：Chinese Union Version with New Punctuation，缩写：CUNP 或 CUVNP）于1988年出版，由联合圣经公会组织圣经学者、翻译顾问和编辑人员，以《和合本》为基础展开修订。《新标点和合本》在用语和文体上基本没有改动[1]。目前香港圣经公会销售的中文圣经，主要也是以《新标点和合本》和《和合本修订版》为主[2]。1988年《新标点和合本》与1919年《和合本》的关系，就像是1769年《钦定版圣经》与1611年《钦定版圣经》，前者更新了拼写与标点，使之和现代一致。


新标点和合本

 我是葡萄树，你们是枝子。常在我里面的，我也常在他里面，这人就多结果子；因为离了我，你们就不能做什么。

John 15:5

我是葡萄树，你们是枝子。常在我里面的，我也常在他里面，这人就多结果子；因为离了我，你们就不能做什么。

每日经文

2025年10月4日

约翰福音 15:5 CUNPSS

Verse by Verse Bible Study

More on the web

品牌集团