Day 23 – Abide in Christ

Jesus talked a lot about abiding “in Him.” Toward the end of His ministry, He gave some instructions to His disciples in John 15:1-11:

  1. I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.
  2. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
  3. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
  4. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
  5. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
  6. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
  7. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
  8. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
  9. “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.
  10. 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.
  11. “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain (abide) in you, and that your joy may be full.

Knowing He was about to depart from this earth, He wanted to impress on His disciples the importance of continuing with Him, His love and His teachings. And this is what abiding is all about – continuing, uninterrupted existence. While a walk can be short or long, abiding implies something long-term.

When we talk about “giving our lives to God,” or “living for Him,” this also implies a long time – a lifetime.

Abiding in Christ is walking in Christ (walking in forgiveness, righteousness, peace, unity, etc.) day in, day out. Through highs or lows, good times, bad times, prosperity or lack. Kind of sounds like marriage vows, doesn’t it? And so it should. It is an everlasting covenant that God created for us and with us.

Let’s live in it.

 

Consider:

What do I understand about abiding in Christ?

Is there something I could do to abide in Him more?

Encounter Church