Verse of the Day for July 24

Jesus said this on the last night, after supper, with Judas already gone out into the dark. The disciples were frightened. Something terrible was coming and they could feel it.

Before he gives them anything to do, he tells them what they already are. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Clean first. The command comes second.

And the command is the gentlest possible: Abide in me, and I in you. Abide means stay. Remain. Do not leave. Fear always speaks first and it speaks loudly, telling you to run, to fix, to control. Jesus speaks after it, quietly, and says stay.

A branch does not strain to produce grapes. It stays joined to the vine and the life moves through it. for without me ye can do nothing sounds harsh until you hear it in a frightened room. It means you do not have to carry this alone, because you were never able to.

When fear wakes you at three in the morning with a list of disasters, let it speak, and then answer it with his words. I am clean. I will stay. Then lie back down as a branch, not a soldier.

You are made clean before you are made fruitful.

Staying joined to Christ is the work fear keeps interrupting.