Honey From The Rock

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Honey From The Rock
Psalm 81:16

"Sweet Stuff From God's Word"

A daily Bible study with Victor Knowles
Copyright 2007

"MY FATHER"

This entry was posted on 09-25-2008 and is filed under uncategorized.

Although Jesus is the vine (the true vine) and we are the branches, our Lord is quick to point out that His Father is the vine dresser. Notice that Jesus addresses Him as "My Father" (John 15:1). He taught His disciples to pray "Our Father" but here He says, "My Father." That is because He is the only begotten Son of God. He has the perfect right to address God as "My Father." Over 100 times in the gospel of John we find that intimate term "Father." Never once do we find Allah addressed as "Father" in the Koran (which teaches that it is beneath the dignity of Allah to have a son).

The fruit that we bear is for the Father. "This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples" (John 15:8 NIV). As we will see tomorrow, the Father is the one who prunes the branches so that they may be more fruitful. The Father casts a huge shadow over this text (see "Father" in verses 1, 2, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16). How privileged we are to be a chosen branch in the Father's vineyard! The fact that we can have fellowship with the "Everlasting Father" is almost beyond comprehension. "And truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ" (1 John 1:3). Charles Spurgeon said, "The highest science, the loftiest speculation, the mightiest philosophy which can ever engage the attention of a child of God is the name, the person, the work, the doings, and the existence of the great God whom he calls his Father." This is what makes Christianity distinct from all other world religions. We can have fellowship with the Father! We have the privilege of bearing fruit for the Father. We can be...Juice for Jesus!

Hymn/Prayer: "God, our Father, we adore Thee! We, Thy children, bless Thy name! Chosen in the Christ before Thee, We are 'holy without blame.' We adore Thee! We adore Thee! Abba's praises we proclaim! We adore Thee! We adore Thee! Abba's praises we proclaim!" (George W. Frazier)