John 15:5
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”
Small words sometimes pack a big punch. When you read Jesus’ descriptive words from John 15, which grab your attention? Vine? Abide? Fruit? Each of these point to an important truth, but notice the little word in, which means to rest close to something or someone. By itself it has some merit, yet when it stands between the words “abides in Me” and “I in him,” it becomes a powerhouse. When Jesus taught His disciples this lesson, He probably pointed to a vine with branches to emphasize the only way a Christian can flourish and thrive is through staying so close that His life flows to us and through us. Sure, you can do a lot on your own, but will the fruit God desires result from all your efforts? Without Jesus, not one bit.
Envision with me for a moment, the areas of your influence. What if you were daily immersed in Christ so that His humble submission to the mind and will of the Father became your ultimate goal? What would happen? I believe personal growth would be a constant – family and relational conflicts could be resolved, love would overflow, ministry opportunities would be wide open. The fruit produced as a result of abiding in Him would be endless.
Imagine now, the unity of your church family being in Christ; walking in His ways, pursing the glory of the Father in all things, and understanding that truth, strength, and power are not found in earthly resources, but in abiding. Again, I believe the Church would impact every sphere, as an unbelieving world witnessed a harmony so dramatically different than their own reality.
Believer, none of this happens by chance. It takes a daily discipline of dependence upon God. Abiding means you pray but wait to hear what the Lord has to say. Abiding allows your thoughts to be saturated by your Bible reading. Abiding in Him and He in you is to be empowered by the fruit-producing Spirit. And to this you were called, “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” John 15:8
– Pastor Jack
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