Abiding in the Vine

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 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. These things I have spoken to you that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:9-11).

We come to one of the core challenges for us in this saying of Jesus. If Jesus is the Vine and we are branches that aren’t just “connected” to the Vine but are intrinsically embedded as part of the Vine, what does Jesus mean when He calls for His disciples to abide in Him?

Some translations use the word “remain.” How do I abide in Christ? What does that look like when I am in the middle of my day, or dealing with the pressures of family life or workplace challenges? Surely, it isn’t just about lying on the floor with gentle worship music playing (though I am a fan of “soaking” as a transformative spiritual discipline).

Well, Jesus gives us some explanation in verses 9 to 11: “Abide in my love.” Firstly, abiding means staying in a place where we remain conscious of Jesus’ love for us. That starts with believing that He really does loves me and continues with me—not being swayed from this truth whatever the circumstance of challenge throws at me.

Secondly, Jesus explains that we do this by obeying His commandments. Now that might sound a bit legalistic, as if our obedience “earns” us Christ’s love. Jesus was never religious or legalistic, but He was frequently very challenging!

In fact, Jesus has just given His disciples a new commandment in John 13:34 and repeats it again here in the next verse: “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12).

We abide in His love by loving others! We give away what we have received. When we step outside of His love, we are no longer able to love others and become fruitless branches that don’t abide in the Vine.

So, in order to be fruitful, we must abide in Christ’s love, and we do that by demonstrating that love to those around us. This is how we will bear fruit.

An Abiding Prayer: Heavenly Father, please give me a revelation of Your great love for me and grant me grace to give that love away to others, knowing that it will never run out.

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