Hi Ladies,
We're nearing the end of our dig into John 15:1-11. I'm sure we could mine diamonds all year long, but I also don't want us to miss the forest for the trees (or get too mixed up with analogies 😊).
This week, let's look at what might be the most familiar section to us. Read the entire passage once again, noting the bolded section. Perhaps you'll have it memorized by the time we finish!
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 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."
"Abide in me and I in you…" Many of us have likely read or heard this phrase so many times that we've not stopped to consider the double wonder. Hopefully we are grasping more of what it means to abide in Christ - to receive all that He has and is giving to us, to rely fully on Him, to believe His words, to trust and obey Him, to find our joy and satisfaction in Him. But flip that understanding and apply it backwards. If Christ also abides in us - "and I in you" - does that mean He receives from us, relies on us, believes our words, etc? We don't have to apply too many of our interpretive tools to know that can't be what this phrase means!
Thankfully, Jesus explains what He means by using the vine and branch metaphor. The branch is in the vine, and the vine is in the branch, but not in the same way. While they are attached - united - one is the source and the other is the fruit of the source. Cut off the branch, and the vine remains. But cut off the vine, and the branch quickly withers.
So it is with our mutual abiding. We abide in the Source, and the Source abides in us, enabling us, fueling us to bear His fruit. Apart from Christ our Source, we cannot bear spiritual fruit. We cannot bear the Spirit's fruit. We cannot be, or do, anything of eternal significance.
Paul's prayers reflect this being and doing over and over: "Asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might." (Col. 1:9-11) He prays that we would know "what is the immeasurable greatness of [God's] power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ." (Eph. 1:19) And he prays "that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith." (Eph. 3:16-17)
The order of being, then doing is important. Paul says with different words, "If anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw — each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done." (1 Cor. 3:12-13)
Many of us do a lot of things. But are they things that will last into eternity? Are they supported by attitudes and actions that evidence our first abiding in Christ?
Did you know you can clean toilets (or wash laundry or scrub dishes or … [fill in your least favorite chore]) in a way that bears spiritual fruit or not? Wouldn't it be sad to spend so much of your life doing mundane tasks that have no eternal value?!
Here are a few ideas of ways that you can abide in Christ as you work, turning mundane tasks into eternal significance:
- Pray, "Lord, thank you for giving me a family who uses this bathroom (or these clothes or dishes, etc.). Thank you for your example of serving. Help me to serve You well as I serve them in the strength You give me."
- Put a notecard on your desk or at your kitchen sink window or on your bathroom mirror with John 15:4-5.
- Set an hourly chime on your phone to remind you to stop and recognize your dependence on the Lord.
- If you like short-hand reminders, write, draw or paint something that says "Being -> Doing," or even shorter, "Abide."
- Come up with your own idea!
Our total dependence is a reality we easily forget. And we need frequent reminders to abide in Him. Let's pray for each other this week, that God would make us more aware of our need, and that we would respond with joyful and increasing trust in His abiding power to live for eternal significance. 🙏🏼❤️
Anna
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