John 15:4-5
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.
Thoughts from Pastor Josh
Dive Deeper
Behind the Scenes
My parents grew huge gardens when I was young. My dad used a tractor to till up the earth and then they planted corn, beans, melons, tomatoes, okra, potatoes, and many other vegetables. By midsummer it was lush and green. For many years, they grew grapes along one side of the garden. The vines stretched across a lattice of wire with many branches coming from the vines that produced juicy grapes. Healthy vines produced healthy branches that produced abundant grapes. If a branch was cut off from the vine, it quickly withered and died with no grapes.
The land where Jesus walked with his disciples was an agricultural society and he used many metaphors in his teaching that contained references to plants and fruit trees that resonated with the people listening to him. The story related in these verses teach about what a life walking with Jesus looks like. Jesus is alive as you and I and he wants to be with us every day. Believers like us need to stay connected to Jesus like a branch to a vine by abiding in him.
Abide means to remain, be steadfast and loyal, to agree with. Abiding in Jesus means we make him the center of our life and base our identity on him above all things including our hobbies, jobs, families and even our church. It means we remember and praise him when times are good and turn to him in prayer when we struggle. Jesus shows us what the Father is like and he is the living word of God the Father. By abiding in him, our lives will produce abundant fruit just like the juicy grapes hanging on a grapevine.
Make it Real
Okay, sounds nice but what does this look like for everyday living? People abide in Jesus in many ways. Reading the Bible, the actual word of God, is a good way to abide in Jesus. He can be found throughout the Old Testament as well as the New. Look for what Jesus says and does. Look at the different names that people use to describe him. Read it prayerfully and ask God to teach you how to apply the things you learn to your life.
Sing songs of worship to him. Build a favorite song list and let the music soothe and lift your soul.
Pray to him. Talk to him not only as your Lord but also as your friend. Tell him about your struggles. Thank him for the good things in your day.
Stay in community with other believers by serving and worshiping together. Share Jesus with other people by telling people about what he has done both for the world at large and for you personally.
Jesus is alive! He sees and hears theses things while sitting at the right hand of the Father and his Spirit is living within you. When you abide in Jesus, who or what can stand against you? Like the grapes from the branches in my parents’ garden, you will produce plentiful lush fruit by abiding in the Vine, Jesus.
Johnny Spence
ACF Devo Team
End in Prayer
Jesus,
I want to abide in you every day and every night. Let me feel the Spirit within me. Let me feel your living presence beside me and within me. Let me pray, sing, live with you in good times and bad. I love you Jesus.
In your mighty name,
Amen.