Jesus says:
I am the vine, you are the branches. If you remain in me and I remain in you, you will bear much fruit.
John 15, 5

Remember the beginning of the chapter about the Lord’s blessings in Deuteromium 28:  “If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his  commands that I give you today, the Lord your God will …” – And this is how many people live: they are quite good, do no harm to anyone, pay church tax or their tithes and are content with themselves. They try hard to be good.
But whoever wants more from God, soon realizes: Something is still missing, the connection to the Lord is not there! There is still much of His blessing missing! And the guilt! What about my guilt and my failure? How can I work it off?
The old Jews tried very hard to keep all the commandments and some extra commandments and boasted their success. But Jesus sees their self-righteousness and says: “If your righteousness is not greater than that of the Pharisees, you will not go to heaven.” – Ugh ……… try harder, be more pious? No, says Jesus, you must only be justified in another way, not by pious works. It is not by avoiding sin that you will be justified, but you do need a new heart. A completely new one, without the inclination to sin. And all the old sins, you know, I just forgive them; that’s what I was on the cross for. I love you, that’s why I did everything for you. And now stay in me, as I stay in you. Believe in me, put your trust in me. Your justice comes from me, not from keeping the commandments. It is I who will make you righteous, simply by grace and love, without any merit from you. Entrust yourself to me. I want to be the King in your heart. Say yes to me, invite me into your heart! I will make it new. I will fill it with warmth and love, kindness, peace and joy. Come to me, my child. I will make you a child of God!
Yes, it’s the only way: If there is no more sin between me and God because Jesus forgives it, then there is peace, communion and harmony with God the Creator. Then God is my Father and I am His child. Then I live in the divine fullness; all blessings are with me, because HE is with me.

Thank You Jesus, You make me a child of God! How good that in my heart You are the King! How good that You forgive and forget all sin! How good that You are here and with You the whole fullness, the whole blessing of God! Yes, I want to remain closely connected with You, to live with You, to be in You, to go through life hand in hand with You. Thank You for being here!