“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. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 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. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” (John 15:1-11).
According to Webster’s Dictionary, the word abide means to bear patiently, to tolerate, to endure without yielding, to withstand, to wait for, and to remain. The Apostle John uses the word abide ten times in the passage above. As I am co-leading Jen Wilken’s study called "Abide" this year, this word kept appearing in what I was reading and studying. I have worked through and memorized this passage many times but this time what stood out to me is how the Lord asks us to “abide” to remain, to endure, to wait. We are to remain steadfast in our waiting while the Lord is acting. Look back at the action verbs in this passage. What is the Lord doing? The Lord is pruning and he is throwing away branches. He is always active at something while he asks us to remain. It reminds me of Philippians 1:6 where the Lord promises that “he who began a good work in you will carry it on to the completion on until the day of Christ Jesus.” God is always working, how good are we at abiding?
Prayer: Lord, help us to remain in you. As you prune us, help us continue to remain steadfast in our devotion to you. Remind us of your faithfulness daily and lead us to depend on you to be our strength in times of adversity. Help us to bear your fruit and be a light to the world around us, remind us of your commands that we may follow you, and gently correct us when we need to yield to you. Lord help us simply abide.
By: Courtney Mize
(Photo Credit: Micah Stephens)