The Vineyard- January 1, 2012

The Vineyard

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. – John 15:5

Mark 10:1-16

-          We see that divorce came about as a concession from Moses, but was not originally intended as part of God’s plan.  What do we learn about marriage by reviewing the creation accounts of man and woman?

-          Jesus says that divorce came about because of the hardness of men’s hearts.  How can softening our hearts improve our relationships with others and with God?

-          Children came to Jesus powerless, and he tells us that we should come in a similar fashion.  Do you come to Jesus powerless, trusting that He will love you nonetheless? 

Psalm 124

-          This psalm calls the people of Israel to remember.  By remembering the way that God had acted on their behalf in the past, they gained confidence in God’s faithfulness in the present.  What ways has God acted in your life?  How often do you remember them?

-          By referring to God has the maker of heaven and earth, the Israelites reminded themselves of how mighty their God was, and the vastness of His power.  Do you sometimes need to be reminded that God is big enough to handle all of your problems?  What ways do you remind yourself of that fact?