Abide

John 15:1-12 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.  He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.  You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.  Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.  If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.  If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.  If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.  I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.  My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

What does it mean to Abide in Jesus, what does it mean to have His Word abide in us?

Well, here’s the thing, True Christianity is exercised in the format of Discipleship. That is a daily learning process through relevant in the Moment teaching.  Yet most of our current style of Christian Education is diluted down to an Hour a week, A Sunday Sermon, with a prayer and a few songs oh, and don’t forget the announcements and the collection….

Yet the Gospels give us a very different picture of what Discipleship looks like.  Perhaps to better understand it we need to use words that we are more familiar with, like the word “Apprenticeship”.  Whether in the context of a Union worker or someone who is an intern who is learning a skill, we get what Apprenticeship is.  Now if we apply that to following Jesus, then we understand it is like on-the-job training.  With this view we would approach Christianity with a whole different perspective.    

Personally, I have been enamored with the concept of Digital Discipleship.  You see today we have the ability to be connected in ways we never had before.  This gives way to the possibility to Fulfill Christ’s Commission “Go and make Disciples” (Mathew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,) with new Methods!  Bringing a new perspective on the truth that Jesus proclaimed in John 14:12 “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.”

Abiding in Jesus is learning to see Him in every little Moment of our day.  Having His Word Abide in us is being able to relate the truths of scripture to our everyday experiences. This ministry tool is designed to help you do just that.

Prayer: Jesus give me the desire, and the ability to Abide in you more; to look for you in every Moment of my day and apply your word to every area of my life.  Thank you for this command and this opportunity may it become a powerful reality in my life.

Amen

Point to Ponder: Do I Abide in Christ as if He is standing here with me every moment of the day, or do I enter and exit His presence at certain “appropriate” times?

Verse to Memorize and Meditate on: John 15:4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

Apply it to your life: Whether it is a “WWJ” braceleted, or something else, carry something with you or wear something that will help to remind you to abide in Jesus. 

Leave a comment below to share what God spoke to you specifically in this passage with others or text me back a question or comment.