Tuesday, February 20, 2001
Tuesday, February 20, 2001
Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it
abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me.
I remember reading about Julius Little of North Carolina who was hospitalized for congestive
heart failure. The doctor warned him his recovery would be slow. His daughter Judy told him not
to worry. "Everybody in my church is praying for you," she said. Still, he was fearful. However,
he began to recover. In fact, in practically no time he felt like himself again. Even his doctor was
amazed at the progress. He saw no reason why Julius and his wife couldn't go through with their
travel plans to visit Opryland in Nashville, Tenn., on their way to visit their daughter Judy in Blue
Springs, Mo.
On their trip they made it to Opryland. It was hot and crowded in the theme park, so they rested
on a shady bench and began a conversation with two friendly ladies sitting on the bench. They
couldn't believe it when Julius' wife told them she and her husband were on their way to Blue
Springs, Mo. to visit their daughter. "Why, I'm from Blue Springs!" said one of the women.
"What's your daughter's name?"
Judy they said and the woman said that she was a member of Judy's prayer chain. Then she
exclaimed to Julius, "I've been praying for you. I thought you were really sick . . . What in the
world are you doing here?"
Julius smiled sheepishly. "I'm standing here," Julius said, "because of you."
(John 15:4
NRSV)
Jesus says, "Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it
abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me." Jesus is the vine, and it is important
that we have a strong-close relationship with Jesus in order to bear good fruit.
God of healing and prayer, heal those who need healing in this day. Amen.
 Vote for this site! |
 Newsletter Sign Up! |
|---|