Abide in Me

     Have you ever listened in on a conversation and learned something new?  I cannot tell you how many times this has happened to me in the past at social gatherings.  It is a great way to learn about others, pick up new ideas or even recipes.  Nothing is required except to sit quietly and listen.  In the same way, the Apostle John invites us to listen in on the conversation/instruction that our Lord Jesus is giving to His disciples.  This wisdom helps us to grow in our faith and know what the Lord expects in our lives.

     Beginning in John 15:1-2, Jesus tells his disciples "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.  Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit."  Here Jesus is making his deity clear to His disciples.  He is the way,

the truth, and the life.  He goes on to let them know that those who do not bear fruit are cut off and taken away while those who do bear fruit are trimmed so they can bear more fruit.  It's the trimming part that often hurts at times in our lives.  We wonder about those difficulties we face, but often, it is the Vinedresser of our souls who is working in us so we can bear more fruit.

     Since we know that Jesus is the true vine and the root of our salvation, what is it that we must do in order to bear the fruit that will bring Him glory?  He goes on in verses 4-5 to tell us what our main responsibility as believers is:  "Abide in Me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.  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."  This seems pretty straight forward doesn't it?  We are to abide in Him.  We cannot produce fruit in our lives apart from the main vine which is Jesus Christ.  He goes on to say that without Him we can't do anything.  Yet, how often do we try to take matters into our own hands?  Let me suggest there are three take aways from this passage that we would do well to remember.

      First, we must remember that we are not in control.  This is often easier said than done because our old flesh just wants to run the show and we know that started in the Garden of Eden.  When we, as a branch, declare our independence from the Vine (Jesus Christ), we will soon find out that the nutrients, water and strength are cut off.  We cannot produce fruit, and we will wither on our own.  Yet some of us cannot seem to let go and allow the Lord to have control.  We feel like we have to command every aspect of our lives and the circumstances around us, but the point remains, we cannot produce the fruit of righteousness by all our works and efforts.  We must learn to trust the Lord completely and submit to Him.

     Secondly, abiding in Christ means that we have fellowship with other branches around us.  We know that God puts us in community.  We are made for fellowship with other believers to build up and encourage one another.  This has been a hard time with COVID separating us from one another, but it has also helped us appreciate the richness there is in fellowship.  Phone calls, cards, and Zoom presentations allow a type of fellowship until we are able to fully be together again.  

     Most importantly, though, we need to know that God is glorified when we produce much fruit by showing the world we are disciples of Jesus Christ (vs. 8).  With Christ at the center of our life, we will reflect His glory to others.  Our goal is not to bear fruit but to stay attached to the Lord.  He is our nourishment, our wisdom, our source.  It is Christ that will produce the abundant fruit when He is at the center.  Somehow we get this confused and we think we have to work ourselves to death to bear fruit.  We join this committee and that committee at church in an effort to show our devotion to the Lord.  But the bottom line is the production of fruit that comes when we remain firmly attached to the vine.  Don't misunderstand.  Volunteering for things at church is fine but make certain the motive for doing so is right.

     When we abide in Christ and He in us, we will experience His peace which passes all understanding.  He has given to us everything we need for life and godliness as long as we stay attached to the vine.  I don't know about you but I loved listening in on this conversation Jesus had with His disciples.  This helps us to know that our job is simple.  We need only put our hand in Christ's every day and walk as He guides us.  Our fruit will grow as we are obedient to this simple command.  Let us begin each new day with this simple directive to "abide in Him".  Selah!