Abide

‘If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you’, said Jesus. (John 15:6-7).

This week is special week to remember the Lord, our Passover lamb, who died and rose again. As I was reading the verses above, I realised it was a talk that the Lord had with His disciples during the last supper.

It would have been a sad time as the disciples realised that this was it, that Jesus was going to die soon. But the Lord was wanting to affirm them, and strengthen their faith with the assurance that He would be there with them. But the condition was to abide in Him, and bear fruit for His kingdom.

The dictionary definition of ‘abide’ is ‘lasting a long time, enduring, lifelong, remaining and standing fixed’.

Jesus was encouraging them to make a lifetime commitment to be joined to Him, to be fruitful for Him, to be connected to the true vine. Not only is this invitation to the disciples, but His words echo through to our time.

This season of the year, here in the UK, the trees are beginning to get new leaves and become green again, but sadly there are branches that did not make it through the autumn winds and winter. These branches are lying in the field, waiting to be collected and burnt. They cannot be fruitful, as they are disconnected from the trunk of the tree.

But on the other hand, there are trees that are going to bud and be fruitful in this same season. Why? Because they are connected to the source. They can get nutrients and all that is necessary for their growth and fruitfulness.

We are called to be connected into a trunk or stem that is healthy, pure, nourishing and strong. And as we connect to Him, His life flows through us and we can bear fruit for His kingdom.

How do we abide? Verse 7 says it's by remaining in Him and having His word in us. Verse 10 goes on to say 'if you obey my commands, you will remain in my love’. It’s also by loving the Lord and our neighbour. In other words, our obedience should flow from our love for Him and the people.

Abiding is a process that is catalysed by our yielding to His Holy Spirit and letting Him work through us, bearing fruit through us for His glory.

Are you willing to yield to His Holy spirit and obey Him? It is our choice whether we will be the branches that bear fruit or those that are thrown into the fire.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for the invitation to abide in You. Please help me to be firmly fixed on You as the author and perfecter of my faith. I pray that You will bring me to the place of yielding to You. Take away my pride and anything in me that refuses to yield to You. Thank You, for You are my source of all I need. I want to bear fruit for You. Amen.