John 15:5 | Abide, Abode and Electricity 🌿 🏡 🔌

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📧 In today’s email…

• 🏡 A helpful way to think about Jesus’ invitation

• 🤔 Reflect: Are you homesick?

• 🔦 Community spotlight!

• 📊 Poll results from 2 weeks ago (what we’re doing in 2024!)

 🧠 Memorize

_{see if you know what words go in the blanks}

I __ ___ ____; you ___ ___ ________.

Whoever ______ __ __  ___ _ __ ___, __ __ __ that bears ____ _____, for apart ____ __ ___ ___ do _______.

John 15:5

Abide, abode and electricity 🌿 🏡 🔌 

Yesterday, we learned that “fruit” includes:

• Character development (inner transformation and heart-change)

• Good works (external actions aligned with God’s mission)

And we know that fruit only comes from abiding in the vine (Jesus).

• “As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me” (v4)

• “…Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (v5)

So what does it mean to abide?

The Greek word translated ‘abide’ or ‘remain’ is menō.

Abide is where we get the more modern word ‘abode,’ which is a house or dwelling place.

For those of us who generally had a good “home” growing up, this can be a helpful way to think about Jesus’ invitation.

Consider some of the ways we use the word “home” today:

• We describe being comfortable and at ease by saying, “ah, it feels like home”

• “Make yourself at home”

• “Home is where the heart is” and “there’s no place like home”

• “Home teams” have a psychological advantage in sports

When we abide in Jesus:

• We feel at home in His presence

• We experience nourishment, life, and peace

• We draw on His power and do His will

When we’re not abiding in Jesus:

• We feel homesick

• We experience worry and fear

• We’re like an unplugged appliance - we can do nothing

Are You Homesick? 🏡 🤒 

It’s inevitable.

Our hearts are always trying to find a home - a place where we’re fully known and fully loved. Where we’re significant and have a purpose.

As St. Augustine of Hippo said:

“You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.”

And even as disciples of Jesus, our hearts sometimes forget that there is only one home, one vine that can offer us the life we need.

And we end up settling, finding our home in:

• Unhealthy addictions

• Busy schedules

• Our job

• Our spouse or children

• Our bank account

• Our status or reputation

But before we can get back home and connect to Jesus, we need to know where we’ve gone.

Reflect

What is preventing you from finding your home in Jesus’ presence? Busyness? Not feeling like you deserve it? Fear?

What are you trusting most to give you life and significance on a daily basis?

Repent

Lord, I am sorry for seeking nourishment and life from anything that is not You. I want to come back home to you.

Thank you for always welcoming me home with open arms. Help me stay connected to you today. 🙏 

Note: Tomorrow, we’ll share specific, practical ways you can stay connected to Jesus.

Community spotlight 🔦 

This is a new section where you can expect to see prayer requests, shout outs, amazing things people in this community are up to, sponsorships to help us continue to operate, and examples of how God is moving in the lives of other believers in this community.

Shout-outs 📣

• HUGE thank you’s to Dave R and Grace L for choosing to pay-it-forward so we can help more people memorize and learn about God’s Word!

Feedback ❤️ 

“I love Malachi Daily. It's helping me spend more time in God's Word as I write the memory verse over and over, and repeat it to myself often throughout the day. Thank you!” 

- Emerson

“Love your dedication to the Word of God and the amazing resource you’ve created. Keep up the good work.” 

- Kathy M.

This community has grown to more than 7,500+ subscribers very quickly - we have so much planned to continue serving you in 2024!

Thank you so much to everyone paying-it-forward to help us keep operating! 🙏

Poll Results 📊 

Two weeks ago, we asked you what you wanted us to work on in 2024.

If the chart is hard to see on your phone, here were the results:

• The single thing that got the most votes was a course on how to take your thoughts captive 🧠 

• But most people voted that we do it ALL! (including the course, Scripture based clothing, other courses, a podcast and more)

We’re excited to get to work to create these things for you all!

It will take time, but we’re already hard at work getting these in motion!

For those that don’t know, we rely entirely on support from our subscribers to do this work.

If you want to help us build these resources to help you grow a more intimate relationship with Jesus (and reach more people with God’s Word), click the button below.

Thank you to all those who have supported us thus far! If you want to support our work (and get HUGE discounts on courses and more in 2024), click here.

Answer key ✅ 

I am the vine; you are the branches.

Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

John 15:5