“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.” John 15:1-10

DEVOTION

My wife, Tara, and I were blessed with a baby girl almost a year ago. Before that, I might have been convinced that I wouldn’t find a greater love in this life than what I had in marriage. In my spiritual life, there is no greater love than God’s through Christ in me. From the moment I saw my daughter take her first breath, I experienced a profound feeling—a sense of dedication, responsibility to provide and to protect against the world. Deeper still, I experienced a profound love that only God could fill in my heart, immense joy I believe will last forever. It is a small representation of the abundance of love God has for us through Jesus Christ. 

The month Tara surprised me with her pregnancy announcement, I began to keep a journal for our soon-to-be child. We didn’t know then what we were having, but it didn’t matter; the blessing of becoming a father was more than enough joy for me. 

I began writing entries daily: capturing the day-to-day growing pandemic, leaving a detailed history for her to look back on, and most importantly, sharing my thoughts, my hopes, my mistakes, my ups and downs in life, and, above all, my faith in Christ. I haven’t yet decided how I will give her this journal—possibly at her high school graduation or a time when she might need it for encouragement, memories of her father, or an account of her father’s faith to help her. 

My goal in writing this journal for her is to keep a daily account of her life from my perspective and, at the end of each entry, to tie together a perspective of the gospel with the hope and promise we have in a holy God. My hope in this is not in an expectation, or in boasting, nor is it in judgment; my hope is my daughter will find the fruitful knowledge of how Christ transformed an unworthy man into a faithful, Christ-centered follower, husband, and father, to be encouraged, and to see my love for her every day through my eyes.   

Whether you are a new father, like me, a seasoned father with years of experience, or a powerful father figure in someone’s life, my encouragement for you would be to start a daily journal and pass it onto your child someday. 

You don’t have to be a scholar or worry about spelling or about saying the right thing—God knows I can do neither. The point is just to write from your heart and allow the Holy Spirit to guide your words in truth, love, and hope. Share your gift of faith; be vulnerable. 

If we are to spiritually lead our families as fathers, let us lead them in Christ, in every effort and aspect of our lives. I realize this will not be easy—our journeys will be filled with difficult decisions, mistakes, and even convictions, but we can make a choice to be men full of grace and mercy, allowing God to light our paths. Let us choose to submit to the kindness of God’s grace that led us to repentance of our ways, the abundance of his mercy, and the love surrounded by his righteous holiness. 

We have an advocate in Christ who suffered all at the cross. He is faithful to follow God’s will, accomplishing all, and through him may we be filled with faith to follow him.

As we prepare for the next Parent Dedication service, let us be convicted to not let fathers go this alone. I know as Tara and I prepare for our public commitment of dedication to our daughter and our faith, I ask for your help. As a church, I ask for us all to be more aware, to be spiritual fathers and grandfathers, to help be a part of her life with grace and mercy surrounding her and shepherding her out of love.  

Let us be as dedicated as fathers to our families as we are in the body of Christ. In John 15, we are reminded that Christ is the vine, God is the vinedresser, and we are the branches. Let us draw nearer to the body that connects us in the vine so that fruit we produce as his branches is glorified in God.

PRAYER

Father,

Thank you for this day! Lord, I seek you and ask you to prepare our hearts to receive your grace, mercy, and love, open our minds to your holiness, and grow us in your Word. As fathers—new, seasoned, or yet to be—I ask that you guide our steps so that by your grace, we may build our faith in you, trust in you, and abide in you. May we walk in a manner worthy of you, fully pleasing and bearing fruit in every manner. For Christ is the vine and you, O Lord, are the vinedresser. We are the branches; prune away from us our impurities so we may draw nearer to center our lives on Jesus, bearing fruit in your name and glorifying you alone. You are the light that guides our path! May we do all that we do in Jesus' name,

Amen!

Keep Growing & Keep Going! 

Gene Carlsward

Digital Marketing Manager

gcarlsward@crossings.church

RESOURCES

• Unwavering series 
• The Story of Job teaching series
• Do Sundays leave you asking questions? What do I really understand or know? Try Alpha–a great place to explore meanings, questions, and thoughts in an open setting.
• Are you ready to explore what a life centered on Christ looks like? Commit to a Centered group! 
• Get involved and be the hands and feet of Jesus—become a volunteer!
• Take a step out of your comfort zone, lean on God, and trust him to work through you and experience his goodness! Learn more about our local and global mission opportunities here.