The Gathering Place Where Family Matters

“I am the Vine, you are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

Years ago Karen and I had the privilege of being the pastor and wife at the First Baptist Church of Westfield, New York. If you have enjoyed Welch’s grape juice, there is a very good chance that that grape juice came from Westfield, New York. Not only did I have the joy of serving a very precious congregation, I had the privilege of living in an area where several of our members were grape farmers. I enjoyed going out in the fields with them, watching how they pruned the branches. There I saw firsthand that the vine truly does give life to the branches and the branches displayed the fruit. The branches were not responsible for producing the fruit. The branches only displayed the fruit which came from the life gained through the Vine. It is the exact same way with us today. For those of us who know the Lord Jesus as our personal Savior, He is our source of life. It is His desire to produce fruit that will be displayed in our lives. We don’t have to create the fruit. What a wonderful privilege it is to be one of the branches connected to and receiving life from our precious Vine, the Lord Jesus!”

For today: I am excited about the opportunity to display the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) because I am a branch and the Lord Jesus is my Vine! How about you?

“Jesus saith unto him, ‘I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the father, but by me” (John 14:6).

Gary crumpled the paper and let out a growl as he threw it on the floor. He had just finished reading a letter to the editor in which a writer expressed the view that everyone should be included and embraced when talking of their opinions and beliefs. The writer went on to say that he was quite sure there were many roads to Heaven and that all of the world’s religions were right and to be accepted. The writer concluded by saying that “We live in a wonderful day and age of inclusivism. Everyone’s right if they follow their own heart!” You may have been tempted to throw the paper across the room, too, if you had read such an editorial. Pity the world’s people! I do believe that the world’s people need to be treated respectfully. They do have the right to believe as they wish, but I do not have to accept their wrong views. I can reject error. In fact, with graciousness and honesty, I MUST reject error. I do know for sure that there is only one way to Heaven and that is the Lord Jesus. Does that make me an extremist because I believe in such an exclusive salvation? Maybe, but I know that’s what the Scriptures teach us. So let the world call me whatever it pleases. I know that the Lord Jesus is the one and only Way to the Father! Without being arrogant, I am rejoicing all day in my Savior, the ONLY Savior! That’s not arrogance. That’s assurance!

For today: Although salvation is freely offered, there’s only one Way to receive it!

“Jesus said under her, ‘I am the Resurrection and the Life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live’” (John 11:25).

The Lord Jesus was at the graveside of his dear friend, Lazarus. The grieving sisters, Mary and Martha, were filled with sorrow. Thoughts flew through their minds as to what it was going to be like without having their dear brother. Surely they had wished the Lord Jesus had arrived earlier than He did. Perhaps Jesus could have somehow stopped this death in their family. Now the Lord Jesus is speaking to Martha. He assures Martha that He is always on time and that His plan is always best. He does this by explaining that He is the Resurrection and the Life. Through His own death and resurrection, we who place our faith and trust in Him for salvation have been made alive in Him right now, and we will be changed in the future. If you have a believing loved one who has died, there is great comfort for you knowing that your saved loved one is home with the Lord right now. But the day will come when his or her body will rise from the ground because the Lord Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life. Whether by death and the wonderful resurrection or if we are living at the Rapture and experience the immediate translation, great days are ahead for the believer.

For today: Isn’t it wonderful to remember that we belong to a living Redeemer?

were dead, yet shall he live’” (John 11:25).

The Lord Jesus was at the graveside of his dear friend, Lazarus. The grieving sisters, Mary and Martha, were filled with sorrow. Thoughts flew through their minds as to what it was going to be like without having their dear brother. Surely they had wished the Lord Jesus had arrived earlier than He did. Perhaps Jesus could have somehow stopped this death in their family. Now the Lord Jesus is speaking to Martha. He assures Martha that He is always on time and that His plan is always best. He does this by explaining that He is the Resurrection and the Life. Through His own death and resurrection, we who place our faith and trust in Him for salvation have been made alive in Him right now, and we will be changed in the future. If you have a believing loved one who has died, there is great comfort for you knowing that your saved loved one is home with the Lord right now. But the day will come when his or her body will rise from the ground because the Lord Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life. Whether by death and the wonderful resurrection or if we are living at the Rapture and experience the immediate translation, great days are ahead for the believer.

For today: Isn’t it wonderful to remember that we belong to a living Redeemer?

“I am the Good Shepherd, and know My sheep, and am known of Mine” (John 10:14).

I want to make a statement to you that will sound absolutely brilliant. Are you hanging on? Maybe you better sit down. This is a statement that could easily startle you to the point of tipping over and injuring yourself. Okay, are you ready for this brilliant statement? Fine! Here it comes. Sheep surely smell like sheep, and they constantly get into trouble. I guess it wasn’t such an earth-shaking announcement after all, was it? When I was a young boy I can remember visiting my cousin on his family farm. His dad raised several sheep. They had a smell very peculiar to them as sheep. Let me testify that those sheep could get into trouble quickly and easily! Once my uncle sent my cousin and me down into the field to bring the sheep back up toward the barn. I thought this would be an easy task. My cousin and I pushed and pulled them. We tried to bribe them as if we had something to eat in our pockets. We shouted at them; we waved our arms at them; we ran into them trying to get them to move. All they would do is run around in circles. I can still hear my uncle laughing as he came walking down the path. “Boys, boys, what in the world are you doing?” Uncle Ed said as he nearly held his sides in laughter. “Here’s how to bring those lambs back up to the barn, boys. You be very quiet now and just watch,” he told us. Then the most amazing thing I have ever seen happened. I have never forgotten it. Uncle Ed simply walked out into the sheep and stood still for a moment after my cousin and I had them thoroughly frightened. Then he softly started talking and slowly walked toward the barn. Those sheep recognized my uncle Ed and responded to his voice. Every single one of them started moving with him, and together they walked up the lane and into the barn. You know, friend, there are a lot of voices out in the world, and many of them can really alarm us. Isn’t it wonderful to know that we have the Good Shepherd Who knows us and we know Him? We follow Him by reading and applying the Word of God.

For today: I am so thankful that the Lord Jesus knows His sheep and that His sheep truly follow Him