Abide
Devotional Reading: He cuts away every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit. But he trims clean every branch that does produce fruit, so that it will produce even more fruit.
John 15:2 CEV
Christ is the vine, and God is the gardener who cares for the branches to make them fruitful. The branches are all those who claim and profess to be followers of Christ. The fruitful branches are true believers who by their living union with Christ produce much fruit. But those who become unproductive – I believe those who turn back from following Christ after making a superficial commitment (Hebrews 6) – will be separated from the vine. Unproductive followers which really aren’t genuine will be cut off and tossed aside.
We have to realize that apart from the vine (Christ), we can do nothing. In John 15:4-5, Jesus tells His disciples that drawing life from Him is essential, using the picture of branches united to a vine. To “abide” is to live, continue, or remain; so, to abide in Christ is to live in Him or remain in Him.
A modern-day illustration would be to consider ourselves as light bulbs. Our light will not shine unless we are plugged into the energy source. The first letters of the phrase “Always Believing In Divine Energy” is ABIDE. As we abide in Jesus, He supplies His divine energy to us so that we can bear fruit. It is the Lord who energizes our life every day!
Prayer and Confession
Jesus help me to continually derive my strength and living from you.
Further Reading: John 15:1-5
Reading Old Testament Bible Stories: Nehemiah 1-4
