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Following from last week, we can see Jesus’ teaching in John. It says “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch, and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you. By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.” (15:4-8)

By now we should understand that we are instructed to stay with God. When we separate ourselves from God, we are not able to bear fruit on our own. We are not able to thrive, grow or prosper independently. From esword a great explanation comes as follows: To abide means to stay where you are. The Christian has been placed in Christ; that is his position.

In daily walk, he should stay in intimate fellowship with the Lord. A branch abides in a vine by drawing all its life and nourishment from the vine. So, we abide in Christ by spending time in prayer, reading and obeying His Word, fellowshipping with His people, and being continually conscious of our union with Him.

As we thus maintain constant contact with Him, we are conscious of His abiding in us and supplying us with spiritual strength and resources. The branch can only bear fruit as it abides in the vine. The only way believers can bear the fruit of a Christ-like character is by living in touch with Christ, moment by moment.

There is a big ‘if’ here – a condition determines if you will bear fruit. That condition is to stay with God = abide in Christ. As we evaluate our lives, let us consider if we are abiding or playing Hokie Pokie. We are either in or we are out. You must put your whole self in!

This week may we be encouraged to surrender all of ourselves to God. Let us not dabble in living a compromised life. There is no amount of Bible studying, praying, testifying, mission work that will make us live to glorify God. Just as there is only one way to heaven. There is only one way to live = “IN CHRIST”!

Yvette Perrin can be reached at theword2yvette@gmail.com.