If We Remain, Ask

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

IF WE REMAIN, ASK

John 15:1-8

15:1 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8 This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

NIV

Having considering this remaining in Jesus and as a result, we will bear fruit, and not just some, fruit, but much fruit, we need to take one more look at some of the other things Jesus said. We already know the fate of those who do not remain in Jesus. We have been told over and over again they will be cast out into the lake of burner sulfur. Jesus says it again, of course metaphorically using branches that have fallen off the vine and whither. However, that is not the same as branches that never were ever connected to the vine. We remember we were once the wild olive branch that had been grafted into the tree.

Rom 11:17-21

17 If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, 18 do not boast over those branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in." 20 Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.

NIV

Just as Paul warns, the Jews were broken off the root because of unbelief, and that is also possible for us as well. We do not have eternal security as some would suppose. If the Jews, God's chosen people, can be broken off due to unbelief, then we could also, if we do not remain in Jesus. Remaining in Christ is crucial to life itself. But there is another benefit besides life, and life abundantly because we are being supported by the root and bearing much fruit. Jesus said before and he repeats it. Because we are connected to the vine, because we are in Christ, we may ask whatever we wish and it will be given to us. Now there are quite a few opinions regarding just how the promise of Jesus can be fulfilled in our lives. Of course, some would say that was only for the Apostles and not us, however, by saying that it would seem it looks like an excuse for not getting what we ask for. On the other hand, some would say the only way for that to happen is if we truly remain in Jesus, which implies following his doctrine exactly to the letter, one mistake, and the promise if invalidated. Again, it sort of looks like a way out for not having our request, our prayer, our whatever we want, so Jesus does not have to give it to us. On the other hand, in order for us to receive that which we ask for would require us to believe it. That is the rub. It may be very difficult to actually believe we can ask and receive whatever we want. That seems almost beyond reach, and that is the problem, we are not remaining in the vine as we should. Could we just be pretending to be a branch in the vine? Do we actually see ourselves bearing much fruit? If we say yes, then we have to believe his words. If we say no, then we better check our connection and make sure we are not in danger of withering. But, if we are bearing fruit then we have the right source for life, and for asking for whatever we want. Now, that does not mean, we should ask for a million dollars, but our wants should be motivated by the root, not by the branch. That is to say, we would always want what would bring glory to the Father, just as Jesus always wants to do. So let is just ask believing what we ask for will bring glory to God.