Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. John 15:4 KJV
Before Jesus went to the cross, He used the likeness of a vine and its branches to encourage His disciples.
He wanted them to stay in close relationship with Him.
He knew in the days to come; their world would be turned upside down.
Words of encouragement were spoken.
He was telling them to rely on everything He had told them.
To stay true to Him.
To live in His love.
That if they would do this, their lives would produce fruit.
The same holds true to this day.
Christ is the true vine.
We, the believers, are the branches.
The branches of the vine are many.
They meet at the root, becoming one vine.
Meaning, all true Christians, though in different places, in the end, meet in Christ.
He desires for all of us to be fruitful.
To produce what is good.
In order for this to happen, we must abide in Christ.
We must have a union with Him by faith.
That is why it was a great concern of the disciples.
They didn’t want their branches to be the ones that dried out and burned.
Never to flourish and produce fruit.
They had to keep depending on Christ and commune with Him.
When we don’t do this our experiences remind us that any interruption in the exercising of our faith, will cause our holy affections for Him to decline.
Let us seek to live on the fulness of Christ.
Making it possible for us to grow more fruitful in every good word and work.
All so our joy in Him and in His salvation is full.
A WORD OF PRAYER
Lord, we know there may be times we don’t see big changes or immediate results when we abide in You. But we do know that wherever branches remain in the vine, there is life and fruit. Our fruitfulness for You depends on our fellowship with You. Help us to continue to be in fellowship with You. Making it possible to keep being fruitful.
In Jesus Name We Pray, Amen