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I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit, he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit, he prunes that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.¹

The Bible wasn’t written merely for theologians but for everyone. I am writing you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake. I am writing you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing you, young men, . . . .² This means you can understand the Bible! With effort and intentionality, your walk would take a new perspective.

And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the LORD your God. . . .³ Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, not stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. . . .⁴ If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.⁵ Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold, . . . .⁶

Of course, there is no free-lunch. It requires work. It takes the hardest work—thinking! Add to your tools for understanding the Bible—daily reading, thinking, studying, and learning.

And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.⁷ I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, . . . For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”⁸ You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide; so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.⁹

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.¹⁰

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.¹¹