Seeking the I AM - the Vine

John 15“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.  If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.  You are my friends if you do what I command.  I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other.Psalm 807 Restore us, God Almighty;    make your face shine on us,    that we may be saved.8 You transplanted a vine from Egypt;    you drove out the nations and planted it.9 You cleared the ground for it,    and it took root and filled the land.10 The mountains were covered with its shade,    the mighty cedars with its branches.11 Its branches reached as far as the Sea,    its shoots as far as the River.12 Why have you broken down its walls    so that all who pass by pick its grapes?13 Boars from the forest ravage it,    and insects from the fields feed on it.14 Return to us, God Almighty!    Look down from heaven and see!Watch over this vine,15     the root your right hand has planted,    the son you have raised up for yourself.16 Your vine is cut down, it is burned with fire;    at your rebuke your people perish.17 Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand,    the son of man you have raised up for yourself.18 Then we will not turn away from you;    revive us, and we will call on your name.19 Restore us, Lord God Almighty;    make your face shine on us,    that we may be saved.