Today’s Podcast

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1. Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
2. If you’ve never tried to rid your property of kudzu, you’ve missed an extraordinary experience…not! Jesus’ words, didn’t have to bring back that memory today, but He did.
3. Scripture
   1. John 15:5-8
   2. Jesus: I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you abide in Me and I in you, you will bear great fruit. Without Me, you will accomplish nothing.  If anyone does not abide in Me, he is like a branch that is tossed out and shrivels up and is later gathered to be tossed into the fire to burn.  If you abide in Me and My voice abides in you, anything you ask will come to pass for you.  Your abundant growth and your faithfulness as My followers will bring glory to the Father.
4. Devotional
   1. In 1876, a simple Japanese vine was introduced into the United States at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia as a decorative plant for ground cover. In the 1930’s and 40’s agriculturalists recommended it in dustbowl areas to stop soil erosion.
      1. Extremely invasive plant
      2. Nodes on the vines stick to anything with any amount of soil or potential source of nutrients
         1. Soil
         2. Trees
         3. Buildings
         4. Almost any immobile object
         5. Just stand still long enough
   2. Removal is difficult
      1. Mow close to the ground and scrape out the crown root
      2. Burn off the plant then scrape out the crown root
      3. Let goats or sheep overgraze to eat the crown root
      4. Use herbicides to kill the crown root
   3. So why do I talk about kudzu when Jesus talks about being part of the vine or else you will be tossed aside and burned in the fire?
      1. Kudzu is everywhere in the southeast, like sin
      2. Kudzu tries to invade any field or yard or property that isn’t attended on a regular basis
      3. Like sin, until you do something with the crown root, it is likely to come back again and again
      4. Kudzu is a nuisance, not a help
      5. Removed and burned, destroyed
   4. God in us empowers us to make right choices
      1. Do we always listen and obey
      2. We get better at it as we stay connected to the vine and draw from Him
      3. We hear His voice more clearly when we stay connected
      4. The closer we stay to Him, the more nodes and roots He removes so we can clear away the plants, the ungodlike characteristics more easily
      5. He wants to perfect us each day as we will let Him
5. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved. In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.