“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. – John 15:1 (NIV)

As we start the new year, we often begin to think of resolutions. We want to read our Bible more, we want to eat better, have better habits and do better in the New Year. And it’s great to make goals and resolutions. However, we don’t want to forget what today’s verse says.

It’s talking about how God the father is the gardener. When I think about a gardener, I think of someone who wants to encourage their garden to grow. They plant the seeds and then encourage the plants to grow. They water the plants, they help the plants that are hurting or not doing well. They lift up the plants that are weak and not getting water. Why? Because the gardener wants to see growth in the plants.

The gardener doesn’t beat up the plants for not growing. He doesn’t tell them they’re doing bad. Instead, he encourages growth.

Today’s Truth: God encourages growth in our lives.

God is the same way. When we’re struggling, He wants to help hold us up so that we can grow in Him better. So this year, remember that you have God the gardener on your side. His goal is to help you grow and mature in Him. Stay close to Him and ask Him to help you grow stronger in Him this year.

Pray: God, thank you for being the gardener in my life. Thanks for loving me and not beating me up, but rather encouraging me to grow. Help me to grow in you this year. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. – John 14:6 (NIV)

Yesterday we talked about how Jesus is the true vine. When we join our lives to Him, then we find true happiness and success. Our meaning and our purpose for life is found in Jesus. Often it’s easy to think that the meaning of life is success or fame. However, the Bible turns that idea on it’s head. The Bible teaches us that the meaning of life is really about knowing Jesus.

Jesus is the way to the father. Jesus is the only way to the Father God. So we should be putting our energy in life into knowing Him and knowing the Father. Those are the things that last eternally, and the things that will ultimately fulfill us in the end.

So take a moment today and ask yourself what kinds of things are you pursing? Success, fame, money, and those types of things won’t bring you to the Father. Jesus is the only way. So pursue Him. And as you do, the other things will line up in your life.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. – John 15:1 (NIV)

When I go biking along the trail near my house, there’s a lot of greenery growing. As I ride I can see ivy and vines going up the trees near the trail. And honestly, I’ve never really given any thought to vines and how they grow. Today’s verse, however, really got me thinking about vines. Why?

Because Jesus refers to himself as the true vine. If He is the true vine, maybe that means that there are fake vines too.

So what would a fake vine be? I think it’s anything we can connect our lives to that isn’t Jesus. Sports could be a fake vine. Money, success, fame could all be fake vines. But Jesus refers to Himself as the true vine. Fake vines might supply fun and excitement for awhile, but eventually connection with a fake vine will come up short.

Jesus is the true vine. He will always be there, supplying you with what you need to do what He calls you to do. Jesus will always be there and will keep you growing strong in Him. It’s in Jesus that you’ll find the contentment that you truly long for. When you sell out to the true vine, you find freedom.

So as you get ready to go into the new year, take some time to think. Have you connected your life to a fake vine? Have you allowed something else to take the place of the true vine, Jesus in your life? If so, it’s easy to make the change. Just determine to make Jesus the priority in your life. As you do, all the other stuff will fall into place.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord – Luke 2:11

Have you ever thought about the fact of how crazy it was that Jesus came as a baby? Jesus is the king of heaven. He made the earth. If anyone was going to show up with splendor, excellence, and power, surely it would be the creator of the universe.

What does Jesus do?

He shows up as a baby. A tiny, helpless, baby. How unexpected is that? Jesus humbly shows up on the scene and into our lives. And it would have been easy to miss Him. You probably could have just been too busy to know He was there. Even during His time of ministry on the earth, you might have missed Him. It would have been easy to be busy with friends, caught up in what was going on and simply not gone to where He was when He preached.

And that’s easy for us to do today too. It’s easy to get so caught up in friends and what’s going on around us that we totally miss Jesus. So during this Christmas season, challenge yourself to get quiet. Seek after God. Look for Him like you would a treasure. Spend time with Him and reading the Bible. Get to know the one who created the world, and who humbly came on the scene as a baby. He was the one who submitted His will to the Father’s to die in your place.

Get to know Him this Christmas. Don’t be too busy that you miss Him. He is the meaning of life. By knowing Him, you find true freedom and happiness in Him.