#BETHEGIFT Someone Needs TodayPrøve

Real Relationship The parable of the vine and the branches in John 15 is a great biblical example of what it means to have a deeper, more intimate relationship with God. This passage is full of powerful promises as we abide in Him. Even though the pruning process does not sound pleasant, it is necessary to sustain life, new growth, and an abundant crop. When Jesus first called the disciples, He said, “Come follow me,” but in John 15, when He knows His time on earth as a man is about to come to an end, He gives them a new command: “Abide in me.” This refers not only to following after Him but to a much deeper level of relationship. One thing that can get in the way of our relationship with the Father is us. If we repent of our sins and confess with our mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, then we are born again—saved. We become a follower of Christ, a disciple, a believer. But most of us stop at this point. We camp at being comfortable instead of seeking a deeper, more intimate relationship with the Father. We follow our friends on Facebook, believing it’s a real relationship. It is not. Similarly, if we just follow Jesus, then we are truly missing out on a real relationship. When Jesus sacrificed Himself in our place, the pathway to an authentic relationship was restored. Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection mean we can all enter into the presence of God face-to-face. This is a real relationship.