Where Are We Abiding?

I recently did an experiment where I cut a perfectly lush, healthy branch off a grapevine and left it on the ground next to the trunk of the vine.

For a while, the branch looked the same – healthy and vibrant, but by the end of the day it had noticeably started to wither.

On day two it was obvious that the branch was struggling to survive, and by day three it had completely withered and died.

Even though the branch was lying right next to the vine, it wasn’t being sustained by any of the life that was in the vine because it was disconnected from the only source of its life.

In John 15:5 Jesus tells us that He is the vine, and we are the branches.

If we ABIDE in Him and He in us, we will bear much fruit, but if we don’t abide in Him we will wither and accomplish nothing.

To “abide” means to remain, continue, and dwell – to never leave or depart. (Strong’s)

And the vine – Jesus – is the Word. (John 1:14)

So to abide in the vine (Jesus) means we remain, continue, dwell in, and never leave or depart from THE WORD.

It means that we give deliberate attention to the WORD by consistently filling our eyes, ears, and MOST importantly, our mouth, with the WORD. (Prov 4:20-22, Rom 10:8,17)

It means giving the Word of God first place in our life every single day, and fitting our life around time in the Word, not fitting time in the Word around our life. =

If we find ourselves in a place where we’re feeling depressed, discouraged, unmotivated, worn out by life’s challenges, or on the verge of giving up, could it be that instead of abiding in the Word, we’re abiding in social media, news, politics, or the cares and the busyness of life?

If we’re failing to see the fruit we desire could it be that we’ve disconnected ourselves from the vine, Jesus, the WORD?

The good news is that we can quickly and easily re-graft ourselves into the vine!

We can choose to separate ourselves from the things that are sucking the life, peace and joy out of us and instead, reconnect to the WORD and draw deeply from our ONLY source of life, hope, joy and peace!

And Jesus promises us that as long as we remain and abide in THE WORD, we will NEVER wither but instead, we will bear MUCH fruit.

Not only will the fruit of the Spirit be on full display in our lives, but our health, relationships, finances, ministries, and everything we put our hands to will ALSO bear much fruit – and that’s what brings God glory! (Jn 15:8)

So, the choice is ours – where are we abiding?#faithtalks