Welcome back to The Living, a space created to help you encounter God in your everyday life, be with Him, and find life right where you are. Today is Thursday, March 19th, and this is day 30 of our Lintern journey. Over the past few days in the upper room, Jesus has been preparing his disciples for what's to come. He has told them not to let their hearts be troubled. He's reminded them that he is the way, the truth, and the life. And yesterday we heard his promise that they would not be left alone as orphans, but he would always be with us. Now Jesus is going to give his disciples and all of us an image for how life with him actually works. And it's not all that complicated. It's about staying connected. Today we will be in John 15 verses 1 through 5 for our Lectio Divina practice. If you're new to this practice, Lectio Divina simply means a sacred reading. It's a way of praying through the scriptures. And through this process, we'll work through four movements. We'll first read the text, then reflect on it, respond to it, and take a moment to rest in the care and presence of God. But before we begin our practice, I want to invite you to simply settle in to where you are today. I invite you to listen to these words from King David out of Psalm 23, verses 1 through 2. He writes, The Lord is my shepherd. I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows, and he leads me beside peaceful streams. I want to invite you today to take a slow breath in and exhale gently. Let's do that again. A slow breath in and exhale gently. I want you to imagine wherever you are today that you can have rest with God. No matter what's going on around you, in your family, in your life, in your world, maybe just ask quietly, Jesus, help me remain close to you today. Lead me beside peaceful streams. Now we're ready for today's lectio practice. Today's scripture comes from the Gospel of John, chapter 15, verses one through five. Jesus is offering a simple image for us, a vine and its branches. On this first reading, I invite you to simply listen. There's no pressure to analyze. Just take a moment to hear the words of Jesus. I am the true vine, and my father is the gardener. 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. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also 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. I am the vine, you are the branches. If you remain in me, and I in you, you will bear much fruit. Apart from me, you can do nothing. Notice the words that Jesus is repeating again and again. And take a moment to simply consider what you've heard. As I read this passage a second time, I invite you to ask the Holy Spirit to highlight a word or a phrase that stands out and hold on to that gently before the Lord. I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 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. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me as I also 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. I am the vine, you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit. Apart from me, you can do nothing. What word or image draws your attention today? As I read from this passage again, I invite you to respond or listen for an invitation from the Lord. You might even ask yourself, where have I been striving instead of abiding? Or where might Jesus be inviting me to stay more fully connected to Him? Jesus says, I am the vine, you are the branches. If you remain in me, and I in you, you will bear much fruit. Apart from me, you can do nothing. Take a moment to respond to today's text. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, so that it will bear even more fruit. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me as I also 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. I am the vine, you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit. Apart from me, you can do nothing. Now simply take a few moments to rest in the presence of Christ. As I sat with today's passage, it's amazing how Jesus, here in his final moments with his disciples, is wanting to help them know and help us know how to move forward. And it's interesting, he doesn't tell his disciples that they need to try really hard to make a difference or to bear good fruit. He doesn't give them a list of strategies of how to succeed. He offers relationship. I'm the vine. You're the branches. What I've noticed in my own life is how often I try to be the vine. I try to do it in my own strength, in my own power, or my own way. And there's other moments where I look to other vines for life and hope and satisfaction. But Jesus clarifies that he and he alone is the true vine. That is his role in my life. And so what that makes my role is that I'm to be a branch. And my job as a branch is not to try harder or try to produce a bunch of fruit. It's to simply stay connected to life in the vine. And to realize that all of my power, all my strength, all my wisdom, my life comes from being connected to the vine. With that, let's close with a word of prayer. Father, thank you for being our gardener. Jesus, thank you for being the true vine. Teach us the rhythm of abiding. And when we begin striving or rushing ahead, Lord, draw us back to your presence. Help us stay connected to you today so that your life can flow through us to everyone else around us. I pray this in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Today, go in his presence. Rest in his love. This is the living. We'll continue tomorrow.