Daily devotional, June 24, 2024 Egg shells
"If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you."
John 15:6-7
I grew up seeing empty egg shells on the tips of our orchid plants. I thought they looked cool, like a bird suddenly left the hatched shells of their eggs there. My dad said the shells are meant to help the orchids grow and strengthen its roots, and protect it from pests. And it sure seemed effective because our plants seemed healthy and flourishing all the time!
As followers of Jesus, there is only one thing that we can do to ensure that our spirits will flourish and we could live a fruitful life. It is to remain faithful and connected to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."
John 15:5
When we received Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior, we in effect committed to a life of worship and thankful obedience. We should be rooting ourselves to Him on a daily basis, and grow our faith by increasing our knowledge of Him and His words.
In his letter to the Colossians, the Apostle Paul encouraged early Christians to grow and strengthen their faith in the Lord by walking in His ways.
"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness."
Colossians 2:6-7
And when we have become aware of just how great, merciful, and good our God is, all we can do is just love Him, worship Him. We will be moved to pay His goodness forward to others, thereby bearing the fruit of the Spirit.
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23
So in this present age, what does it mean to remain connected to God? Here are some ways:
1. Follow God’s commands and teachings.
2. Live a life that honors Him, and make life and everyday decisions that will please Him.
3. Read His words everyday, try to understand and reflect on them, and use it to guide you in all the choices that you make.
4. Worship God every single day, not just on Sundays. Make sure to have a quiet time of prayer and bible reflection daily. Study His words alongside fellow believers. Worship Him with others every Sunday.
5. Serve others and live your faith.
"But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."
Jeremiah 17:7-8
As they say, one of the marks of a true follower of Jesus is a life lived in worship and overwhelming gratitude. When we realize the fact that God knows our past, present, and even future sins and failures, and yet He loves us and chose to die for us, we can only praise Him and live our lives for Him.
And when we choose to love Him above everything and everyone, we will lack nothing. We will reap the built-in rewards of doing good and choosing good, and enjoy the natural consequences of choosing to follow His word and teachings. And while we will still experience troubles, we will be blessed with His presence in our lives felt through the peace and joy in our hearts that calm us in the face of the inevitable difficulties of our earthly existence.
“But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him” 1 Corinthians 2:9
Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on John 15:1-17 to dig deeper on today’s topic.
Reflection Question: Are you fully connected to Christ?
Conversation with the Lord: Lord Jesus Christ, please help me remain connected to you. Empower me to follow your words and abide in you. I want to remain in your presence forever. Amen.
