Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Today we officially pivot from reflecting to resolving.

Jesus says in today’s scripture, John 15:4-7 (NLT)…Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. [5] “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. [6] Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. [7] But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!

Consider…
Oxford Languages defines the verb resolve as, decide firmly on a course of action.

Accordingly, today’s title literally means decide firmly to remain in Jesus!

Quite honestly, that’s today’s message in a nutshell.

Still there are some additional observations worth mentioning from today’s scripture.

First, remaining has a reciprocity commitment from God. Notice Jesus said…
Remain in me, and I will remain in you.

It’s easy to get distracted doing all the things we think will impress God that we miss the most important thing of pressing into Him.

That reminds me of Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38-42 (NLT). Here’s the story…As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. [39] Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. [40] But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” [41] But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! [42] There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

While Martha welcomed Jesus and was distracted by physically preparing Him something to eat, she missed out on spiritually being fed by sitting as the Master’s feet.

That reminds me of Jesus’ response to the devil’s hunger temptation. Matthew 4:4 (NLT) says…But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”

As we resolve to remain, let’s decide firmly to sit and spiritually eat at our Lord and Savior’s feet!

Going down a little further in today’s scripture, we hear Jesus plainly say…
For apart from me you can do nothing.

Many of us love to quote Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)…I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

However, very few us follow the wisdom of Psalms 37:5 (NKJV)…Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.

Nor do we practice two of the best verses my mother instilled in me, Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)…Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; [6] In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

Every new year myriads of people make personal resolutions. While there’s nothing wrong with that, it’s often futile because it’s out of order. That’s because rather than asking God to bless our plans, we should be asking Him to reveal His.

Proverbs 16:9 (NKJV) reminds us…A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.

Never mistake God’s permission as an override to His Sovereignty.

As Daryl Coley lyrically testifies in Sovereign…

Sovereign, Sovereign
The Lord my God is Sovereign
He can do whatever He wants to do
He can do whatever He wants to do
When He wants to
God can do whatever He wants to do, where He wants to
How He wants to
Because He’s sovereign, God is God

Who am I, to question his wisdom (I am nothing)
Who am I, to question God’s judgement (I am nothing)
Who am I, to be offended by his ways?
By word He allows to be
I must realize that my God is (sovereign)

Thus, stop obsessing on your personal plans and start obeying the Master’s Plan.

That triggered these lyrics from Sister Tamela Mann’s The Master Plan…

Oh, hold on
God’s got the answer, yes he does
To those questions you don’t understand

You don’t have to worry
God’s got, yeah, he has the master plan
Yes he does, oh

The father knows, what’s best for you, yes he does
God always knows how to provide for you
He always, always see you through, yes he has
Hold on to what he’s promised you

Hold on, God’s got the answer
Oh, oh, to those questions, to those questions
My God, you don’t understand, hold on
Hold on my brother, hold on my sister

Yes my God, he’s got, he’s got the master plan
Yes he does
Whatever it is, God’s got it
You’ve been searching, he has it right there

My God has everything you need
I dare you to try him
I dare you to reach out for him
He’s knocking, he’s knocking

He wants to come in, he’s on the outside
He has the answer, the master plan
My God has, he has it, he has the master plan
Yes, yes he does, hallelujah, he has the master plan

As I contemplated the Master’s Plan, the Holy Spirit led me to look up the definition of a master plan. Oxford Languages defines it as a comprehensive or far-reaching plan of action.

Then the Holy Spirit pointed our plans are limited to the here and now, but God’s plan was, is and will be eternal.

Accordingly, in our planning, let’s be mindful of Ephesians 2:10 (NLT), which explains…For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

God has already planned what He wants us to do!

When looking for the master plan definition, my eyes scanned the browser page further and I saw this from AI Overview…

The best definition of a master plan is a comprehensive, long-term strategic document guiding the future development and use of a geographic area or project, balancing community goals, existing conditions, and future needs for things like land use, infrastructure, and environment to ensure orderly growth and enhance quality of life. It’s a foundational policy guide, not just a simple layout, that sets a vision and provides specific actions for development, often influencing zoning and regulations for years.

That led me to Ephesians 1:4-5 (NLT), which reveals…Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. [5] God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.

And just a few verses later, Ephesians 1:9-11 (NLT) shares…God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan. [10] And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. [11] Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.

Do you see, Christ, not Charles (sitcom), is in charge.

So when Jesus says, “For apart from me you can do nothing.”, He means everything works because of Him in accordance with God’s plan.

The Holy Spirit emphasized, Jesus is the source of everything, referencing Colossians 1:15-17 (NLT)…Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, [16] for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. [17] He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.

Since everything was created through and for Christ, and He holds all creation together, let’s decide firmly to remain under His authority and follow Him.

Lastly from today’s scripture I read Jesus’ promise…
if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!

Prosperity preachers love to misquote naming and claiming in Jesus’ name. However, Jesus provided the proper context with “you remain in me and my words remain in you”.

You see our asking and receiving from God is tethered to asking for what He’s made known to us.

Often one of the scriptures used to espouse the Jesus’ name is the password to blessings is His own words in John 14:13-14 (NLT)…You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. [14] Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!

However, one key verse later He continues in John 14:15 (NLT)…“If you love me, obey my commandments.

Jesus’ promises are to those who love Him and keep His commandments.

That reminds me, of another often misquoted scripture, Romans 8:28 (NLT)…And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

Just as is the case with Jesus’ next words providing context to His promise, Romans 8:29-30 (NLT) explains…For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. [30] And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.

God promised everything will work for transforming us into the image of Christ, who gives us right standing with God.

The Holy Spirit is admonishing us to stop claiming spiritual promises for physical pleasures.

Which brings us back to more of Jesus’ words, these from John 14:21 (NLT)…Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”

Jesus makes Himself known to those who love and obey Him.

That triggered a new song added to my favorites. Lindy Cofer’s Obedience chorus says…

I will love You with my yes, and with my obedience
I will love You with my yes, Jesus
I will love You with my yes, and with my obedience
I will love You with my yes, Jesus

I believe that’s what Jesus wants to hear from us!

And He says that when we resolve to love, trust and obey Him more, He will give us whatever we ask, which should be more of His presence.

That made me hear hymn lyrics in ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus…

1 ‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
and to take him at his word;
just to rest upon his promise,
and to know, “Thus saith the Lord.”

Refrain:
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him!
How I’ve proved him o’er and o’er!
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust him more!

That’s the perfect summation of our resolve to remain.

Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust him more!

Resolve to STAY…

Surrendered
Totally
And
Yearningly

…in God’s presence!

Today’s song is…
Stay

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)