ABIDE IN ME
As followers of Christ, we need to remain in Him if we are truly to succeed as believers. To abide means to rest in, remain and cleave to the teachings and person of Christ. Abiding, or remaining in Christ means believing, trusting, or welcoming Christ. It is fully attaching ourselves to Him and drawing our necessary life force from Him. The Bible talks about abiding in Christ throughout the New Testament.
The Bible says in John 15:4: “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.” It is only when we abide in Christ that we can bear fruit as Christians because we need His help to be fruitful. The first key to abiding in Christ is receiving and believing in Him. Jesus tells us He is “the way, the truth and the life” and says no one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). The next key is abiding in Christ’s love. When we bask and dwell in the love of Jesus, we understand that we are all part of Him. We love God more than anything, and we love our neighbour as ourselves. This must be paramount in the life of every believer that is intentional about the kingdom.
Finally, the last key is abiding in Christ by abiding in His word. Jesus tells us if we remain in Him, then His words remain in us. We must be intentional about studying and meditating the Word, that faith be built up in our spirit. When we abide in Christ, we flourish and are fruitful, like branches connected to an everlasting vine. SHALOM!
CONFESSION
Thank you Jesus for the gift of salvation. Help me to abide in you that I might be a fruitful branch in Your everlasting vine, in Jesus Name. Amen.