Abide: How Staying Connected Transforms Everything
Oct 11th, 2024.
During a recent Bible study, we spent some time looking at John 15, specifically verses 4-9, which included the word “abide.”
“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.” - John 15:4-9, ESV
I want everything in those verses for my life. I want to bear fruit. I want to be able to ask my Father for help and trust He has my back. I want to live as a disciple and be in His love.
For that to be a reality, I need to abide.
I often catch myself rushing past verses like this – the kind of verses I’ve heard since grade school multiple times over. I‘ve slipped into an all-to-common, “yeah, I already know this” mindset. That’s where I was sitting before this recent Bible study, and then one of the guys I was with made us all dig a little deeper…
What does it mean to abide?
The NIV translation puts it like this, “Remain in me.” The Message version says, “Live in me.” The word “abide” has other meanings as well. Those include accept, stay, wait, stay, dwell, be held, kept, and be present.
“Abide” is a reminder for us to stay connected.
One of the guys I was with at that Bible study painted the picture clearly. Truth be told, I don’t know a lot about vines. I do know about trees. In Minnesota, they’re everywhere I look. So, imagine a branch on a tree. Cut that branch off the tree and throw it on the ground. How long will it live once it’s laying on the ground, separated from the tree? How long will the leaves stay green before they wither and die?
They may stay green for a while, but that will be short-lived. We all know what’s going to happen to that branch.
The branch needs to be connected to the tree to live. That tree, or the vine, provides everything the branch needs to live. Create a cut that separates the branch from the vine, and the branch will quickly die. It cannot live without the vine. The vine is the source of all the nutrients and energy the branch needs to survive and produce fruit. Even a small cut between the branch and the vine will weaken the branch and open the door for disease to creep in.
The branch is entirely dependent on the vine. It has to abide. It has to maintain its connection.
The branch has to understand that it is 100% dependent on its connection to the vine.
That, my friends, is where I fall short every day. Yes, I believe that Jesus is the vine and that He is the source of everything I need in this life. Yes, my ability to produce fruit is dependent on staying connected with Him.
At the same time, I battle with pride and my desire to control my output. When I need something, I am more apt to lean into my “make it happen” mindset. I am tempted every day to control my output and provide for myself rather than trusting in the vine to provide all that I need. The lie is always there. “You’ve got this. You don’t need the vine.”
It’s easy to forget to abide.
Since that Bible study, here are three questions I’ve been asking myself:
- Do I believe that the vine has everything I need?
- Can I produce fruit if I am disconnected from the vine?
- If the vine has everything I need and I cannot produce fruit apart from it, what am I doing to protect my connection to the vine?
I would challenge each of you to ask yourself these same questions.
Think about that branch and the tree again. The branch never forgets that it is connected to the tree. It never looks for ways to separate itself from the tree. The branch knows its growth and life are tied to the tree and does everything it can to maintain that connection.
Brothers, we are branches, not vines. Remember that, and then do everything you can to stay connected to the vine. Do everything you can to abide.
Jesus has all you need. “Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit.”