John 15:4 NKJV
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.
Jesus uses the illustration of a vine and it’s branches to explain the importance of our relationship with him. He is the vine, we are the branches, and he continues to inform us that we cannot bear fruit of ourselves unless we abide in him.
The Greek word for abide is the word “Meno” and it means to stay in a given place, state, relation, or expectancy. It is to continually dwell, to be present, to endure to tarry.
A true disciple of Christ is one who continually remains connected to him no matter what. Take note that Jesus the vine never detaches himself from the branches, rather it is us the branches who detach ourselves from him.
To be connected to him means to continually depend on him in everything because when we disconnect we cannot bear godly fruit. In fact, the result of abiding in him is that we will bear godly fruit each time every time.
So how do I know that I am connected to him? Simple, look at the kind of fruit that you are bearing.
Godly fruit is twofold, first it is the souls of men, for Jesus said that if we follow him, then he will make us fishers of men. Secondly it is the fruit of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23 love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Such fruit is so easy to detect because it can be seen.
What fruit are you bearing?
Reflections.
What does staying connected to the vine look like to you on a day-to-day basis?
What are some of the issues that cause you not to abide in Christ?
What MUST you do to ensure that you abide and continue abiding in Christ?
