[John 15, Proverbs 3]

H – John 15:9b, “……. abide in my love.”

E – Abide!

The word abide means continual enduring in an accepted decision one has made. There is no greater picture of this than from John 15. The word abide appears 11 times in the first 17 verses. 

The imagery used to display the meaning of abiding is fruit. If you are not connected or abiding in the vine you will not bear fruit. If you are connected and abiding in the vine you will bear much fruit. (It was interesting as I read this morning, you do not find the words “bear fruit.” You see the words “bear MORE or MUCH fruit” (v.2,8). Yet, fruit is not what we do. Fruit is the overflow of the relationship I’m grafted in to. Which means Jesus calls us to more that just going through the motions, but Him working in and using our lives in every way, for His glory (much fruit).) 

So, for one that has made an accepted decision to follow Christ (“The Vine”), there should be a continual enduring of abiding in Him. To abide in Christ means to keep His commandments (v.10), continually. And, to abide in Christ speaks of our love for Him. In other words, to passionately love God means that we abide in Jesus. Jesus himself proclaimed in the previous chapter, John 14:15, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments,” (you will abide in me). Here in John 15, Jesus reiterates this truth by stating, “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, ……” (v.10). 

Yet, for the one that has claimed acceptance to follow Christ but has never endured in abiding in Him, reveals that they were never plugged in to “The Vine” to begin with. The deadly reality is that they will prove to not be of Him, taken away (v.2), gathered with other useless branches and thrown into a fire to be burned (v.6). 

If you have come to the realization that you can’t do this life on your own, abide in Christ. You and I can do nothing of any eternal significance without Him (v.5). To help in our enduring, Jesus gave us some clear applications to abiding in Him: 

1. I abide in Christ Personally – v.4-5, “I in you,” Abiding in Christ personally can only come from a personal love relationship with Christ livingin us. And, if it is He in us then it is a clear reminder that the Christian life is not me living for Jesus, but Jesus living His life in and through me, personally. 
2. I abide in Christ Daily – v.5, “remain in me.” Remember to abide in Christ is to live or remain continually. Abiding in Him is an everyday surrender be learning from Him, “His Words” (v.7), communing with Him, “ask the Father” (v.7, 16), and taking up our cross and following Him, “my disciples” (v.8). 
3. I abide in Christ by Connecting – v.5, “you are the branches.” One of the great qualities of a Christ follower is connecting with other Christ followers. Other Christ followers should encourage us and hold us accountable to keep abiding. We were never called to “bear fruit” alone. It is utterly impossible to abide in Him without connecting with “the branches” of “The Vine.”
4. I abide in Christ by Loving – v.12, “love one another.” I can not abide in Christ without unconditional love in my heart towards other. This means that I’m willing to show grace, mercy, forgiveness to others, because that’s what Christ has shown me, “as I have loved you.” This loves proves that you are of Him and His disciple (v.8, John 13:35). 
5. I abide in Christ by Going – v.16, “you should go.” This is the call for every Christ follower. “GO THEREFORE” and make disciples. This is the Great Commission. The response for all Christ followers is to “Go” and make disciples. If I’m not “going” I’m not abiding. 
6. I abide in Christ by Serving – v.15, “I call you friends.” This is interesting. Jesus says he no longer calls us servants, but now he calls us friends. However, that does not mean that we do not serve. It means that we are no longer under Christ. I means that we are in Christ, therefore we serve with Christ, as a friend. Even to the point of laying down our life (v.13), which is how Jesus served us. 

Here is a great truth. When I am abiding in Him there is great JOY (v.11). I don’t have to work in conjuring up happiness. I abide and walk in His joy, which surpasses any other emotional feeling I could possible experience.

A – Remain, continue, persevere in being connected to The Vine. Bear much fruit for His Glory. Walk in the joy of the Lord. 

R – Lord God, thank you for life. Thank you for sustaining me. Thank you for providing for me and meeting my needs. Lord, thank you for producing in me what only you can produce. Lord, use my life for your Glory. Help me to walk in your joy. I pray people would see you in me and through me today as I attempt to serve others. We need you. I need you. You are our only hope. Give me the strength to persevere. 

In Jesus Name!