Lent Day 31 [03.25.2026] Remain in Christ

This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. - John 15:8

Scripture: John 15:1-27

What does a plant need to grow? A good source of sunlight, a steady flow of water, and nutritious soil to grow in. Our scripture provides a powerful and relevant description of our desperate need for Christ. The gardener establishes the vine in a field with plenty of sunlight, water, and good soil just like God the Father has established Jesus Christ in full glory and power. Through Jesus Christ, we have access to the resources of the field just like the vine provides the nutrients needed for the branches to bear fruit. Apart from the vine, a branch cannot bear any fruit and becomes a branch without life. Therefore, Jesus calls us to remain in Him and more specifically remain in His love.

How can we remain in His love? This teaching urges us to remain in His love by always experiencing and living in His love. This is not a metaphor but a practical instruction since remaining in Jesus’ love means to love one another as Christ has loved us. When we lay down our pride, selfishness, and ambitions to serve and bless one another, we practically remain in Christ’s love. No matter if the world hates us, we are called to love with the confidence to know that the one who loved them unconditionally was the first to be hated. When we love others, we experience the constant life and blessing of remaining in the love of Christ.

Reflection:

1.     Why do I have a hard time loving some people in my life?

2.     How does this keep me from experiencing Christ’s love in my life?

3.     How can I make an effort to love them today?

Prayer:

Dear God, thank you for providing your Son Jesus Christ to be the source of life. Help me to remain in the love of Christ by loving others in my life the way you have loved me. I do not want to be afraid but to conquer all things with the love of Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

제목: 그리스도 안에 거하라

본문: 요한복음 15:1-27

식물이 자라기 위해 무엇이 필요할까요? 충분한 햇빛, 꾸준한 물 공급, 그리고 영양분이 풍부한 토양이 필요합니다. 오늘 말씀은 우리가 그리스도를 얼마나 절실히 필요로 하는지를 강력하고도 실제적으로 보여줍니다. 정원사는 햇빛과 물, 좋은 토양이 있는 곳에 포도나무를 심습니다. 이처럼 하나님 아버지께서는 예수 그리스도를 영광과 능력 가운데 세우셨습니다. 우리는 예수 그리스도를 통해 그 밭의 모든 자원에 접근할 수 있으며, 가지가 열매를 맺기 위해 필요한 영양분을 포도나무로부터 공급받습니다.

포도나무를 떠난 가지는 스스로 열매를 맺을 수 없으며 결국 생명을 잃게 됩니다. 그러므로 예수님은 우리에게 그분 안에 거하라고, 더 구체적으로는 그분의 사랑 안에 거하라고 말씀하십니다.

그렇다면 어떻게 그분의 사랑 안에 거할 수 있을까요? 이 가르침은 우리가 그분의 사랑을 계속 경험하고 그 사랑 안에서 살아갈 것을 요구합니다. 이것은 단순한 비유가 아니라 실제적인 명령입니다. 그분의 사랑 안에 거한다는 것은, 그리스도께서 우리를 사랑하신 것처럼 서로 사랑하는 것을 의미합니다.

우리가 교만과 이기심, 자신의 야망을 내려놓고 서로를 섬기고 축복할 때, 우리는 실제로 그리스도의 사랑 안에 거하게 됩니다. 세상이 우리를 미워할지라도, 우리는 담대하게 사랑해야 합니다. 왜냐하면 우리를 조건 없이 사랑하신 그분이 먼저 미움을 받으셨기 때문입니다. 우리가 다른 사람을 사랑할 때, 우리는 그리스도의 사랑 안에 거하는 지속적인 생명과 축복을 경험하게 됩니다.

묵상 질문:

1. 나는 왜 어떤 사람들을 사랑하기 어려워하는가?

2. 이것이 어떻게 내 삶에서 그리스도의 사랑을 경험하는 것을 방해하는가?

3. 오늘 그들을 사랑하기 위해 나는 어떤 노력을 할 수 있을까?

   
   

기도:

하나님 아버지, 생명의 근원이신 예수 그리스도를 주신 것에 감사드립니다. 내가 다른 사람들을 주님께서 나를 사랑하신 것처럼 사랑함으로 그리스도의 사랑 안에 거하게 도와주세요. 두려워하지 않고 예수님의 사랑으로 모든 것을 이기기를 원합니다. 예수님의 이름으로 기도드립니다. 아멘.