would have also been familiar with the Old Testament metaphor of Israel as God’s vineyard (Psalm 80:8–16 ; Isaiah 5:1–7; Jer. 2:21). who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Heb. 11 words, and commands; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - 1 Corinthians 13

John 3 illustrates this supernatural work of God and where the often used phrase “born again” originates where the “perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality” (1 Cor 15:53). knowledge, but go to him as the King of Glory with faith in the one who has the words of eternal life (John ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Mark 15

Summary As John begins to close his letter, he makes clear his intention in writing it: so that those Not only is this the theme of John's first letter, it's the theme of the entire Bible: that you might Let passages like this one here in 1 John build your confidence that "God will surely listen to your according to His will; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - John 19

You can't produce fruit if you're disconnected from Christ. Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 64 Q. But doesn’t this teaching (that our works do not contribute to our salvation) make people indifferent and wicked? A. No. It is impossible for those grafted into Christ by true faith not to produce fruits of gratitude. Summary There are two words the Bible uses to describe how to live a fruitful life. The word used most often to describe successful Christians is the word Jesus uses in the example of a grape plant which bears fruit. This word has a passive feel to it. Jesus explains that as long as a branch remains connected to the vine, it will bear fruit. In other words, the fruit is going to come as long as the connection is maintained, just like a grape branch, when given the proper inputs, can't help but bear fruit. Sadly this isn't the case for every branch. Some grow off as long, wild shoots with lots of stem but no leaves or flowers. Others bury themselves under other branches, hidden from the sunlight. Still others seem to be in just the right condition, getting plenty of water, nutrients and sunlight, but for whatever reason nothing comes out of them. In each of these cases the unfruitful branches are cut of and thrown into the burn pile. In the second half of this passage, Jesus puts 'flesh' on this metaphor so to speak. He is the vine, and you and I are the branches. As long as we remain connected to Him - that is, as long as His Word and Spirit are flowing into our lives - He assures us that we will bear fruit. But some people are not content with this relationship, and shoot off on their own. Many bury themselves in the busyness of life, and although connected to the nutrients, do not absorb them. Apart from me, Jesus says, these people can do nothing, and their unfruitful lives will be cut off and thrown away. Dig Deeper Our instinct is to prefer the other word the Bible uses in regards to fruitfulness. We want to be people who produce fruit in our lives. Produce is a much more active word, and conjures up images of hard work, resourcefulness, and downright determination. Those are all good things, but most of the time the Bible uses the word produce, it does so in a negative way. Pharisees are quite often the people the Bible speaks of in connection with trying to produce fruit. They work super hard to impress their neighbors and appease their own consciences, but their reliance is totally on themselves, disconnected from the nutrients of the the true vine. The result is often like a Red Delicious apple: it looks really good and shiny on the outside, but not very appealing when the skin is peeled back. You've been created to be fruitful - to do and make things that reflect and glorify the image of God that you've been created in. Most of this world, separated from the vine by sin, is either desperately expending energy trying to produce fruit on their own, or they've given up trying and consequentially have very little meaning in their lives. So stay connected to the Vine - Jesus Christ. As you immerse yourself in the nutrients that flow from His Word, your life will naturally bear fruit. NOTE: The English Bible translations often use 'bear' and 'produce' interchangeably (even the Catechism uses the word produce). The contrast is much more noticeable in the Greek. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, the gardner, who cuts away unfruitful branches; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you remain connected to the vine so that your life bears the fruit it was designed for. ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Philippians 2

Step out of the darkness and into His wonderful Light Genesis 1:3-4a (NIV) And God said, “Let there be John 3:19–21 (NIV) 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead Here John calls men “darkness.” Summary Two words. That's all it took. Two single syllable words. didn't take long for the pinnacle of His creation, His prized possession, the best thing He ever made (1 Dig Deeper The context of today's passage from John 3 is fascinating.

John 14:12-14 (NIV) 12  Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing , and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13  And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14  You may ask me for Summary John 14 is a chapter we've come to often as we read the Bible together. The emphasis gets lost in English, but is super apparent in the Greek words John recorded.

John 16:12-15 (NIV) 12  “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13  But when not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14   He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15  So much of John's gospel - from chapter 14-17 - is dedicated to what Jesus taught that night.

John brings up this anointing in this passage of his first letter. claims faced opposition through false teachers who tried to lead these young Christians astray that John So, John directs them to abide in the truth of God’s Word that they have been taught from the beginning We face different opponents and false teachers than John’s audience did in the first century, but his “Fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience” (1 Tim 1:18-19) ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU

Summary A of the primary themes in the book of 1 John is love. John talks about God’s love for us, and how amazing it is. Reading that reminds me of Romans 5:10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him

Summary John 17 is known as Jesus' High Priestly Prayer, which He prays right before being arrested and that's been added to the famous hymn Amazing Grace should be modified a bit: When we've been there 10,000 One of the very first things God assigned Adam to do was to name the animals (Gen 2:19-20). details from the "only true God," all while working and taking care of all that God has made (Gen 2:15 ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Romans 14